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CQPXRIGHT DEPGSm 



Church Socials and 
Entertainments 



GOOD TIMES THAT WILL BRING THE FOLKS 

TOGETHER AND PROMOTE 

SOCIABILITY 



Gathered by 
CARLETON B. CASE 



Shrewesbury Publishing Co. 
CHICAGO 






Copyright, 1916 

by 

Shrewesbury Publishing Co. 



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im 



OCT -9 1916 



*>CU438771 



\$ 



*5 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Introductory 5 

A Colonial Tea 7 

Church Socials from Over Seas 14 

Young People's Social Hour 21 

A Day of Industry 28 

A Church Library 31 

A Progressive Missionary Tea 32 

An Interesting Picture Evening 34 

Fair of the Hollyhock Ladies 36 

Easter Pictorial Sunday-School Service 43 

The Sunday-School Army 51 

Red and Blue Contest 58 

Welcoming the Teachers 60 

Halloween Merrymakings 62 

Christmas in the Sunday- School 70 

Christmas-Time in Church and Sunday- School. . . 81 
How to Entertain a Sunday-School Class 89 



INTRODUCTORY 

THE importance of the social side of church 
life is being recognized more and more in 
the face of the many modern counter-attrac- 
tions that tend to lead our amusement-seeking young 
people into other paths. 

Wise indeed is that church whose members are 
alive to the situation and actively devoting time and 
effort to supplying the social needs of its commu- 
nity. "We are a social people. We like to get to- 
gether. If the church leads in attractive entertain- 
ments we will follow its leadership willingly and 
with pleasure. If not the church, then some other 
and perhaps less desirable social center will be found 
to supply our perfectly legitimate and very human 
propensity for seeking entertainment among our fel- 
low mortals. 

There are tried and proven methods in this book 
for giving successful church socials and entertain- 
ments. The Ladies' Home Journal and Woman's 
Home Companion have sponsored them, and it is 
from their pages that they are here brought together 
and presented in permanent form. You will find in 
this collection many ways of aiding in the social life 
of your church suited to your individual needs. 



CHURCH SOCIALS AND 
ENTERTAINMENTS 

A COLONIAL TEA 

FEBRUARY offers a delightful opportunity for 
the Aid Society to entertain all the women of 
the church, especially those who are not mem- 
bers, but who, with a little persuasion, might be in- 
duced to join. 

Invitations are to be sent to each one. To make 
these in the style appropriate for the day, get some 
dark blue paper which is rather stiff, and with a pat- 
tern cut out small tea-pots six or eight inches across. 
On these write: "You are invited to a Colonial tea, 
to be held at the church on Wednesday afternoon, 
at three o'clock. " These may be addressed on the 
opposite side and mailed. 

Prepare the room for the meeting by putting on 
the walls large pictures of Mt. Vernon, Washing- 
ton's Reception or the portraits of George and Mar- 
tha Washington. Pretty Colonial plates that can be 
borrowed, with samplers, silhouettes, miniatures and 
warming-pans can be artistically arranged around the 
room with an occasional flag used here and there. 
7 



8 CHURCH SOCIALS 

Have an attractive tea-table spread at one side, with 
blue and white china, and at the close of the meeting 
serve Colonial refreshments, which, of course, means 
tea, with crullers, and a cake baked by a Colonial 
recipe, such as may be found in some cook-books. 
This table may be lighted with unshaded candles in 
old-fashioned sticks of brass, silver or glass. The 
reception committee might wear dresses of the style 
of Martha Washington, with powdered hair. The 
president and officers of the society could serve as 
this committee, or one might be especially appointed. 

Program for the Colonial Meeting 

1. Business meeting: Reports of Secretary and 
Treasurer. 

2. Home Life in Virginia (paper or talk). Read- 
ing from "The Virginians, ' ' by Thackeray. 

3. The Love Story of Washington. 

4. Mt. Vernon; Martha Washington's Housekeep- 
ing. (Illustrated with pictures of Mt. Vernon.) 

5. The First Inaugural Ball. 

6. Lafayette's Return to America. 

7. Brief items of interest given by members, of 
family traditions of these and other events. 

Close with two patriotic songs: "The Star- 
Spangled Banner," "Columbia, the Gem of the 
Ocean' ' or "America." 

Festival of Dolls 

When other bazaars are given by the Society dur- 
ing the year, it is a good idea to omit the usual doll 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 9 

table altogether or keep it very insignificant, in order, 
to create especial interest in this particular sale. 
Plan out all the tables in advance, and when dolls 
are promised by members, ask that they be dressed 
in this or that costume, describing it accurately. 
The committee who have this sale in charge should 
try and keep the details as secret as possible, since 
when it is all done it will be quite interesting enough 
to warrant asking an admission fee. Do not have 
any high-priced dolls, except perhaps one, the bride. 
They sell better if all are about fifty or seventy-five 
cents, or even less for the small dolls. 

Decorate the room by cutting out long, wide 
streamers of pink crepe paper; fasten these along 
the sides of the room at the ceiling line, six or eight 
on a side, and gather them all up in the center and 
fasten them, making a tent effect of the whole. Cover 
the gas-globes with pink paper, also, or use pink- 
shaded lamps and candles. Arrange the tables with 
pink cheese-cloth if the style of dolls used warrants 
this, and most of them will. Put a row of tables 
down each side of the room, and at the end erect a 
doll's house of four large rooms. This may be eco- 
nomically built by piling up four packing-boxes of 
equal size, two on top of the other two, or, if this 
will bring the second floor of the house too high up 
for the children who come to the bazaar to see easily 
into the upper rooms, put the four in a row on a 
low table or on boards laid across wooden horses 
covered with pink cheese-cloth in front. 

Paper the rooms with ordinary wall-paper, using 



10 CHURCH SOCIALS 

small flowered pattern. Put curtains up where win- 
dows would be, and use plain gray paper for glass, 
outlining imaginary panes; the curtains will hide the 
windows sufficiently, so that it will not be necessary 
to cut the windows out. On the floors of three rooms 
put carpet or stain them brown and lay down small 
rugs of carpet. Furnish the whole house completely, 
and sell everything in it, but do not deliver anything 
till the close of the bazaar; merely mark each article 
with a tiny tag as sold, with the address. 

In the parlor have a regular set of furniture, with 
a chandelier, a piano, a sofa with small pillows, a 
standing lamp, little books and a clock. Do not fill 
the room with dolls; it is not necessary to have any 
in it, and it will probably show to better advantage 
if without them. In the bedroom put a good-sized 
bed and a crib, a dressing-table, candles, chairs, a sofa 
and a wardrobe ; by putting up a thin pasteboard 
partition on one side and papering it, one end of the 
room can be made into a cunning bath-room, with a 
tub, a wash-stand, towels, soap, wash-cloths and tiny 
hot-water bags. The floor of this room should be cov- 
ered with oilcloth. The dining-room should have 
table, chairs and sideboard, the table to be spread 
with the attractive dishes of colored papier-mache 
food which looks so real as to almost deceive a child. 
In the kitchen have a stained floor, a stove, a sink, 
a dresser set out with tins of all sorts and a table 
with a kneading-board and rolling-pin. 

There may be eight tables or more on the sides 
of the room; it should depend somewhat upon the 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 11 

estimate of the number of people who will attend 
the bazaar. Do not allow the dolls to be taken away 
before the sale is over. 

Begin with the smallest and lowest-priced dolls at 
the first table, and call it The Nursery. Arrange 
the table-top like a room, put three cribs or small 
beds about, with bedclothes, canopies and pillows, 
have a high chair with a baby doll in it and one 
small-child doll in pajamas on the floor playing with 
a tiny cat. A trained-nurse doll can be bathing a 
baby doll in a small tub of real water with a tiny 
sponge. Sell baby dolls, hair-brushes, milk-bottles, 
towels, bibs, and baby-clothes. 

The second table would be The Dolls at School. 
Dress rather small bisque dolls like kindergarten 
children, in ginghams, and have a few with white 
aprons ; cut the hair of some dolls, to make it straight 
across the neck, and dress these as boys in Russian 
blouses. Tie the hair of the girl dolls up with very 
large bows on top of their heads and braid the hair 
of several. Make a long table, and arrange the dolls 
behind this, seating them in chairs, and on the table 
put little blocks or other kindergarten materials. 
Have a large teacher doll at one end of the table. 
Sell the dolls, chairs and table, and have, also, at 
one side other school belongings, slates, little books 
and satchels. 

The next table is for The Summer Dolls. This 
table-top should be bare, with a heap of sand or saw- 
dust piled up in the center. Dress dolls of small or 
medium size in ginghams, with sunbonnets and large 



12 CHURCH SOCIALS 

flat hats. Turn and pin up their dresses around their 
bare legs, give them little pails and shovels and group 
them around the sand in twos and threes. Smaller 
dolls in rompers and overalls and sailor suits can be 
standing about a good-sized sailboat or sitting in a 
circle around the picnic-baskets. 

The Traveling Dolls have the fourth table. Dress 
the girl dolls in coats and skirts, with quiet hats, and 
the boys in little Norfolk jackets and knickerbockers. 
The children should be accompanied by grown-up 
father and mother dolls, and several nurses, black 
and white, carrying babies. Pile some trunks on a 
truck, give each doll a suit-case, traveling-bag, a 
rolled-up steamer rug or a basket of some sort. 

The Dolls' Party would come next in order. The 
dollies will look very festive in dainty little white 
summer dresses, with colored sashes and hair-ribbons. 
In the center of the table put up a good-sized May- 
pole, made of the handle of a broom, cut to the 
proper length and wound with ribbons. At the top 
tack a dozen or more narrow ribbons of alternating 
colors (pink and white is a pretty combination) and 
arrange the dolls in a large circle, fastening the end 
of a ribbon to one hand of each, and face them side- 
wise, as though they were actually circling the pole. 
At one end of the table a group of dolls might be 
sitting on the floor or on cushions eating refresh- 
ments; a party table decorated with flowers and little 
candles and cakes could stand in the middle. 

The sixth table would be for The Winter Dolls. 
Cover the table with white cheese-cloth and draw it 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 13 

up at one end and fasten it over some piled-up boxes, 
to make a hill; lay cotton over the whole and scatter 
generously with mica, which may be bought at a 
paint-shop in bulk. Make some cardboard sleds and 
fasten to these boy and girl dolls, and pin them 
securely with hatpins to the hill in several places. 
Dress the girls in red and navy blue, with tam-o'- 
shanter caps and furs; brush their hair out so it will 
seem to be blowing back in the wind. Dress the boy 
dolls in thick woolen, with leggings, mittens and knit 
caps. Groups of dolls stand at the foot of the hill 
to watch the fun. At one side have some boy dolls 
building a snow fort, at the other have a number 
throwing small snowballs made of cotton and sewed 
into shape; scatter mica on the shoulders of these. 

The last table of all would be the one most inter- 
esting to the little girls; it is, of course, The Dolls' 
Wedding. Lay a strip of red cloth down the length 
of the table, and let the end turn toward the room, 
to represent a church aisle. Put down each side tall 
wooden knitting-needles stuck into large spools and 
trim these with small artificial leaves and flowers; 
let them hang across the aisle in garlands. Coming 
toward the onlooker should be, first, two very small 
dolls in pink, carrying baskets of flowers and wear- 
ing large hats ; behind these should be the four brides- 
maids in white, with pink hats, carrying bunches of 
pink flowers. Last, would be the bride, alone, in con- 
ventional dress and veil, with a huge white bouquet. 

Refreshments may be served at this bazaar, and 
candy sold. Martha Landon. 



CHURCH SOCIALS FROM OVER 

SEAS 

Something Japanese 

u t I ^HIS is imported/' is always an alluring 
I sentence when the shopkeeper tempts us 
with some beautiful fabric, so ofttimes, 
when arranging for a social affair, we are tempted 
to borrow some of the picturesque settings and sup- 
posedly characteristic accessories of our foreign 
friends. The Japanese affairs seem to be the most 
popular, doubtless because the decorations are all so 
attractive in their bright colors, and the customs so 
unusual. To plan such a social the invitation would 
be effective written on Japanese rice paper, starting 
at the lower right-hand corner and writing from the 
bottom to the top of the paper, and from right to 
left as shown in the invitation on the adjoining page, 
which reads as follows: 

By this you are asked to my Japanese fete; 
So bid your jinrikisha stop at my gate. 

If you wish to have a table of Japanese novelties 
for sale as souvenirs there are many such articles 
which retail from three to ten cents, including babies 
that speak, wooden pagodas, parasols, trays and lan- 
terns. 

14 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 15 

For "An Evening in Japan," to be 
given by a Mission Study Class, cards 
cut in the shape of Japanese lanterns, 
lithographed in red and gold with Jap- 
anese figures and decorations in colors, 
may be used for invitations, as the 
cost is only one dollar a hundred. 
The back of each card is plain white 
so that an invitation or a program 
can be easily printed or hektographed 
on it. 

The rooms may be decorated with 
chrysanthemums, as they are the na- 
tional flower of Japan, but, if they 
are too much trouble to make, an ar- 
tistic decoration, similar to the Japan- 
ese cherry blossom, could be arranged 
in the following manner: Procure a 
quantity of bare branches of trees and 
to them wire either plain pink blos- 
soms made of tissue paper or the 
S small wild roses cut from wild-rose 

crepe paper, with an occasional leaf here and there, 
also cut from the paper. You might call the affair 
"A Cherry Blossom Fete." 

If you have a good story-teller among your young 
people you can get program material for her use in a 
booklet, costing only six cents, entitled "Japanese 
Myths and Legends." Other entertainment features 
might be a Japanese Flower Drill ; a Ring Drill, illus- 
trating the poetry of motion, set to the music of 



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16 CHURCH SOCIALS 

Lange's " Flower Song"; an action song, " Little 
Maids of Japan"; A Chrysanthemum Drill; "Pop- 
pies — a Sleepy Drill"; recitation, "Little Children in 
Japan"; and Japanese love songs, of which there 
are a number obtainable. 

"A Japanese Wedding Ceremony" is always in- 
teresting, but this would make almost an evening's 
entertainment in itself. 

If you wish to have a social for children they will 
have great fun in playing some of the real Japanese 
games, which are simple but require quick thought 
and dexterity. It is difficult to find a great number 
of Japanese games, but any kind of circle games 
would be appropriate, where the guests may play 
them seated on the floor in Japanese fashion. One 
contest might consist of picking grains of puffed 
rice from a teacup with chopsticks or meat skewers, 
and placing them in a saucer some distance away in 
a certain length of time. 

Envelopes could be distributed containing jumbled 
letters of some of the largest cities of Japan; the 
names to be determined by straightening out the 
mixtures. 

Japanese post cards might be used as picture puz- 
zles, cutting each one in several pieces and placing 
it in an envelope for each guest to straighten out. 
These cards have picturesque scenes that would please 
adults as well as children. 

The delicacies mentioned below would be very suit- 
able for Japanese social refreshments, using crepe- 
paper napkins in Japanese design: Orange Pekoe 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 17 

Tea, Japanese Rice Wafers, Nutted Cheese, Stuffed 
Dates, Crystallized Ginger, Japanese Rice Candy. 

A Chinese Affair 

Many of the features suggested for the Japanese 
social could be used also for the Chinese social. The 
decorations should be red and yellow for the old 
China; red, yellow, blue, white and black for the 
new China. Flag pins are obtainable. 

An interesting description of Chinese wedding cus- 
toms is arranged in entertainment form. It is amus- 
ing as well as pitiful in parts, especially when the 
united families do not hesitate to make very personal 
remarks on the appearance of the bride. Costumes 
may be hired for a small sum from many of the mis- 
sionary headquarters. 

The whole company might be asked to share in 
the wedding banquet which follows. They may or 
may not enjoy the menu, but at any rate it is an 
economical one — rice, chopped cabbage with red pep- 
per, drop cakes and tea. The food should be served 
on waiters. The Chinese do not use tablecloths, and 
towels wrung out of hot water are passed among the 
guests. 

It is possible to obtain from one of our returned 
missionaries for twenty-five cents a package of pro- 
gram helps. Chinese rules of etiquette come in 
printed form at ten cents a dozen. 

If the children have a part in the social they will 
enjoy the Chinese games of " Tiger Trap," "Select 
Fruit, " "Eating Fish's Tail," "Cat Catching 



18 CHURCH SOCIALS 

Mice," " Forcing the City's Gates," and "Catch- 
ing Fishes in the Dark." 

A Social of Many Tongues 

It would be a fascinating study to trace to their 
sources the beautiful hymns sung throughout Chris- 
tendom. Why not plan an "imported" program, 
and let the people know to whom we are indebted 
for the great poems, set to fine music, which we sing 
so unthinkingly? 

The Italian Hymn — "Come, Thou Almighty 
King." 

The Portuguese Hymn — "How Firm a Founda- 
tion." 

The Spanish Hymn — "Blessed are the Sons of 
God." 

The German Hymn — "A Mighty Fortress is Our 
God." 

The Austrian Hymn — "Hjark! What Mean Those 
Holy Voices?" 

The Sicilian Hlymn— "Guide Me, Thou Great 
Jehovah ! ' ' 

The thought could be carried out by a stereopticon 
display of pictures, showing our debt to Germany in 
Hofmann's pictures of the Christ; to the Nether- 
lands for Rembrandt; to Italy for Fra Angelico, 
Michelangelo, Raphael, and other artists who have 
influenced religious thought. 

Or for a lighter form of entertainment and in- 
struction this game of "National Characteristics" 
will not only furnish amusement, but will also ac- 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 19 

quaint the participants with some of the salutations 
of the various nationalities, which are: 

Arabia — "If God will, thou art well"; also, "May 
your morning be good." 

Austria — "Kiss your hand." 
•China — "Have you eaten rice?" "Is your stomach 
in good order?" 

f> Burma — "Give me a smell?" (Burma's method of 
issing is the Lapland nose-rubbing.) 
*» Egypt — "How goes your perspiration?" "Do you 
sweat copiously?" 
* England — "How do you do?" 
•■France — "How do you carry yourself?" 
Germany — "How do you find yourself?" 
••Greece — "What do you do?" 
-• The Netherlands — * ' I hope you fare well. ' ' 
•Italy — "How do you stand?" 

Poland — "Art thou gay?" "How dost thou thy- 
self?" 

Turkey — "Be thou under the care of God." "For- 
get me not in thy prayers." 

Persia — "May your shadow never be less." 
""Spain — "I kiss your hand." 
-'Sweden — "How can you?" 

Eussia — "Be well." "How do you live on?" 
"God be with thee." 

To enforce sociability write one of the salutations 
and the name of the country on a slip of paper, 
and each one of the products, sports or gifts of th» 
same country on other slips. Number all of the set 
alike, and let all who have those numbers form a 
group. Each group is then asked what its national 
salutation is and what it has given us. Some things 
for which various countries are noted are: 

The Netherlands — "Windmills, skating, dikes, Peae© 
Palace. 

Italy — Music, art, olives, wine, oranges, macaroni. 



20 CHURCH SOCIALS 

Spain — 'Olives, silks, oranges, glass, cork, bull fights. 

Austria-Hungary — Bohemian glass, Hungarian music. 

China — Silk, fireworks, rice, chopsticks, great wall, 
filial piety. 

England — Cricket, football, cutlery, roast beef, man- 
ufacturing, commerce, etc. ' <-° 

France— Art, scientific instruments, literature, silk, 
wine. 

Germany — Music, art, books, gymnastics, pretzels, 
sausages. 

Greece — Olive oil, ancient art and architecture, Mara- 
thon games. 

Norway — Violin music, skiing, fishing, timber. 

Sweden — Timber, metals, gymnastics. 

The Minister's Social Helper. 



YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIAL HOUR 

WHEN we come together for our social hours 
let us try to plan them so that we shall take 
away at least one new fact with us, or let 
us open our minds and eyes so that, perhaps, what we 
have known before may be looked at in a new way, 
or let us try to quicken our wits or refresh our 
memories or awaken our imagination. 

I have some little stories I want to tell you of 
how these things have been done by the young peo- 
ple of the churches : if you try them, and on the way 
home one of the boys shall say to the one with whom 
he is walking, ' ' Say, that was worth going to, wasn 't 
it?" then you have succeeded. 

There is nothing that broadens one so much as 
travel, and if we can't get out of the ruts of our 
daily routine we can get out of the ruts of our 
minds. 

So my first story — and it is a true one — is about a 
company of young people, not fifty miles from Bos- 
ton, who, under the guidance of their pastor's wife, 
thought they would see the world. It was a very en- 
joyable trip. 

Here is a reproduction of their itinerary for one 
winter : 

21 



22 CHURCH SOCIALS 

Around the World in Five Months 

Special Excursion Ticket 

Good for 

One First-Class Passage 

On the Airship "Imagination" 

Trips on All Lyies of the Grand Mission Board Eailroad 

Personally Conducted by the 

Chin Jen Yung Club 

December 3: The Empire of the Sultan. 

December 17: 'Way Down in Dixie. 

January 7: The Land of the Trident. 

January 21: An American City. 

February 4: The Empire of the Mikado. 

February 18: The Land of the Braves. 

March 4: The Dark Continent. 

March 18: ''The Land of the Cotton and the Corn." 

April 1: New Mexieo — via Utah. 

April 15: The Celestial Empire. 

There was something new to learn each evening 
about each one of these countries or sections of the 
country. There is more attractive and interesting 
material on these subjects available for young people 
than I could tell you about if I should take a whole 
book for it. These young people traveled fast. 
Others would do it more slowly, perhaps, and would 
take more time for a closer study. You will see 
that they divided their interest between their own 
and foreign lands. They took up a New Mexico 
program in this way: 

1. A Journey to New Mexico. 

2. The Every-day Life of the People. 

3. A Glimpse at the Work in New Mexico. 

4. Short Stops at Our Mission Stations. 

For an evening's entertainment in "The Land of 
the Braves" they gave a bow-and-arrow drill, and, 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 23 

in addition, "The Modern Hiawatha' ' — a story in 
Terse to be used with tableaux. 

A New Use for Old Games 

I want to tell you of a novel evening they had one 
winter. They put on their program " Guest Night, 
an African Palaver," the last word meaning "a, 
great talk." They thought it would be interesting 
to have a progressive-game evening, making every 
game a missionary one relating to Africa. Some one 
suggested that each girl should look over all the 
games she could find; make a note of the most pop- 
ular ones and then try to change them into African 
games, bringing in the results of her efforts at the 
next meeting of the club. The first game brought in 
consisted of one hundred and twenty cards, or thirty 
books, to be played like Authors; titled, "Who, 
Where and What in Africa. 7 ' The list began with 
Saint Mark, who is supposed to have planted Chris- 
tianity in Africa. Then followed some of the early 
church fathers and several explorers, ending with a 
number of pioneer missionaries to Africa regardless 
of denominations. For instance, the first two cards 
of one book represented Robert and Mary Moffat, 
who laid the foundation of Christianity in South 
Africa, the third card represented Bechuanaland, 
where they worked, and the fourth card was a quo- 
tation from Robert Moffat: "A medical missionary 
is a missionary and a half." 

Another game is called "A Trip to Africa." The 
board is covered with squares an inch and three- 



24 CHURCH SOCIALS 

quarters in size. There are seventy-two squares in 
all, and on each was written some place or incident 
connected with a trip to Africa, All the players 
start at 1 — Boston. They visit all the stations of 
their Mission Board in Africa, sailing for home 
from number 72. For variety there are lucky and 
unlucky squares. If a player reaches a square 
marked "Land Sighted" or "A Tepoia Ride" he 
may move ahead five squares, but a fog or an attack 
of African fever sends him back three. 

Many other arrangements of games are possible. 
"Sliced Animals" may be made, using the animals 
native to Africa. There is the fish-pond game with 
a Zulu kraal for a pond and black button-mould men 
to be rescued. The game of tenpins could represent 
ten African problems to be thrown down — the slave 
trade for one. The alphabet game is a good one, 
giving out a list of names of twenty missionaries and 
a set of letters from which to make the names. 

These games are simply to impress, by much re- 
calling and repetition, the names of persons and 
places associated with the knowledge already ac- 
quired, and to arouse interest on the part of guests 
as to what all these names stand for. They are not 
intended as a means of imparting information, or to 
take the place of a more serious study. 

How a Group of Girls "Traveled" 

But here is another true story about a society of 
girls — this time not fifty miles from Philadelphia — 
whose pastor's wife is enlisting their interest in home 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 25 

missions. They believe in keeping in touch with 
what is going on, and at their October meeting, as 
conditions in the Arctic regions were then being very 
much talked of, they, too, decided to take an imag- 
inary trip from the parsonage to see what was being 
done religiously for the Eskimos of Alaska. One of 
their members had a postcard reflecting machine, so 
they started on a trip across the country, stopping 
by picture in as many States as possible, seeing 
Niagara and Yellowstone Park and getting glimpses 
in California and Washington. As the different girls 
told about the Eskimos — how they look and how they 
live, of their worship of the aurora, their supersti- 
tions, and their way of traveling with sledges and 
dogs — the talks were illustrated by pictures cut from 
leaflets and magazines and by Alaskan postcards 
used in the reflecting lantern. Next they showed by 
picture and story what their own church was doing to 
help; then, skirting the Arctic Circle by means of 
a map shown on the screen, they came over to Green- 
land and spoke of the first missionary to the Eskimos 
in 1741; then down to Labrador to see Doctor Gren- 
f ell's work in that cold country; then back, by the 
airship on the screen, to listen to one of his charm- 
ing stories about the wonderful little Eskimo boy 
who came to the World's Fair. 

Such a trip is possible for any society, as the pic- 
tures and story material are obtainable through the 
different denominational boards and from magazine 
articles, as well as from private and public libraries, 
and many other available sources. 



26 CHURCH SOCIALS 

Can You Locate These Quotations? 

Suppose we say that the purpose of our social life 
should be for three things: education, service and 
relaxation. Well and good. We've been talking 
about some educational methods. Let us lean back 
in our chairs now and see what we know or think we 
know about this. Some know their Bibles better than 
they know Shakespeare, and, yes, with some it would 
be true the other way about. In which book would 
you find these quotations, in the Bible or in a volume 
of Shakespeare's works? 

1. The love of money is the root of all evil. 

2. Love not sleep, lest thou Gome to poverty. 

3. Is there anything whereof it may be said, "See 
this is new"? 

4. There's a special providence in the fall of a 
sparrow. 

5. The evil that men do lives after them. 

6. My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! 

7. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. 

8. Stolen waters are sweet. 

9. A friend loveth at all times. 

10. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile. 

11. Like madness is the glory of this life. 

12. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick. 

13. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his 
feet. 

14. Life's but a walking shadow. 

15. Happy thou art not; for what thou hast not, 
etili thou strivest to get. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 27 

16. A friend should bear his friend's infirmities. 

17. I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. 

18. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance. 

19. All things are ready if our minds be so. 

20. The glory of young men is their strength. 

21. What I will not, that I cannot do. 

22. The world is but a word. 

23. The light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is 
for the eyes to behold the sun. 

24. Two are better than one; because they have a 
good reward for their labor. 

25. Oh, that this too, too solid flesh would melt ! 

26. Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep. 

27. That men should put an enemy in their mouths 
to steal their brains! 

28. A man that hath friends must show himself 
friendly. 

29. Refuse profane and old wives' fables. 

30. The apprehension of the good gives but the 
greater feeling to the worse. 

Ladies* Home Journal. 



A DAY OF INDUSTEY 

A Substitute for the Annual Bazaar 

WHY hold a bazaar for the church fund this 
year? Why not, instead, have a "Day of 
Industry'"? That is what our church so- 
ciety did last season, and it proved many times more 
profitable than any bazaar could possibly have been. 
In place of the usual posters we distributed neat 
business cards that read: 

Members of the Society of 



Church request your kind patronage on their "Day 
of Industry' ' 24th, in place of your usual at- 
tendance at their annual bazaar. Let us do your 
mending, cleaning, dyeing, stenciling, polishing, and 
renovating. Orders called for and delivered. Prices 
reasonable. Experts in all departments. All earnings 
donated towards a fund for a new church-bell. 

For quite a fortnight members of the ' ' collection ' ' 
committee solicited orders, which it was afterward 
their special duty to deliver. Those serving on this 
committee were selected for their possession of auto- 
mobiles or other vehicles. Meanwhile a "prepara- 
tion" committee were preparing the vestry for its 
new use, so that on the appointed day the place turned 
as if by magic into a convenient and busy workroom. 

Busy it was indeed. In one corner the "Band of 
28 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 29 

Merry Menders," who had insisted that plain sewing 
was their forte, lengthened children's garments, 
patched rents, and darned socks. In the center of the 
room a group of young people busily passe-partouted 
all sorts of pictures and photographs. 

The renovating section held a milliner retrimming 
hats for half-dollars, and a deft needlewoman making 
new lamp-shades out of old, with materials supplied 
by her customers. Near these two, six artists were 
daintily stenciling curtains, parasols, and sofa- 
cushions. Further on, four busy polishers were pol- 
ishing all the silver belonging to the congregation, 
besides endless bracelets and rings. The secret of 
restoring pristine luster to the last they had obtained 
from a church member who was by trade a jeweler. 
The polishing of the silver brought fifteen cents a 
dozen pieces; polishing of jewelry, a quarter an 
article. 

The kind matron who had offered to dye for us 
preferred to do so in her own home, so we merely 
allotted her a band of willing assistants. At two 
dollars a costume her earnings for the day came to 
seventy-four dollars. 

But the greatest success of all was the cleansing 
department. All engaged in it had had much per- 
sonal experience in some branch of that difficult art. 
One could do wonders with stained laces by means of 
glass jars of warm soap-suds; another could utilize 
gasolene in an expert manner; still another could 
clean ostrich feathers with meal, and reeurl them 
beautifully with the back edge of a silver knife, while 



30 CHURCH SOCIALS 

a fourth could renew velvet by steaming with wet 
rags over a sizzling hot iron. This useful quartet 
was rushed all day, and by nightfall had over two 
hundred dollars to turn into the treasury. 

At ten o'clock the busy hum of the working 
ceased. Accounts were balanced up, and our won- 
derful "Day of Industry " came to an end. 

Everyone asked why we didn't repeat the day 
every month, and promised their patronage. They 
said that it fulfilled a crying need in the community, 
though a need that they had never realized before. 
We have decided to have a "Day of Industry," in- 
stead of a bazaar, every year. 

Mary Scott Ryder. 



A CHUECH LIBRAEY 

IN a small town without a library, our church 
society has filled a long-felt want, and realized a 
nice little sum besides. Books were solicited from 
the townspeople, and the members of the society each 
gave one of the latest books. Over four hundred vol- 
umes were secured to start with, and the members of 
the society in turn have charge of the library, which 
is open twice a week. The gift of a book made one a 
member, and books were rented to members for five 
cents for two weeks, non-members being charged ten 
cents. Reference-books are free if not taken from the 
library, but consulted there. We all donate our old 
magazines, and these are free if returned the next 
day the library is open. New books have been added 
from time to time as we could afford them, and the 
plan has been a suceess in every way. 



SI 



A PROGRESSIVE MISSIONARY 
TEA 

THE Women 's Missionary Society of our church 
held a unique missionary tea. Invitations were 
sent to fifty women. Four hostesses were ap- 
pointed, one for each of five tables. These tables were 
designated as follows: The i i association ' ' table, the 
" program' ' table, the "giving" table, the "member- 
ship ' ' table, and the ' ' literature ' ' table. The hostesses 
were selected with regard to their ability to present for 
discussion the subject which these tables represented, 
ways and means for presenting these subjects being 
discussed by the hostesses long before the day for the 
tea. The hostess of the "giving* ' table had pledge- 
cards ready to distribute. At the " literature' ' table 
missionary literature was distributed, etc. Fifty 
guests, divided into five groups of ten each, seated 
themselves at the different tables. 

Our tea was of five courses. After the guests were 
seated, the younger women of the church served the 
first course — fruit; and during the ten minutes al- 
lowed for this course the different hostesses pre- 
sented their subjects, the guests entering into the dis- 
cussion if they so desired. At the end of ten minutes 
a bell rang, and the parties of ten progressed to the 
32 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 33 

next table, there to discuss another phase of mission- 
ary work, the hostesses remaining at their own tables. 
The second course was sandwiches, olives, and pickles ; 
the third, ice-cream and cake; the fourth, tea and 
wafers; and the fifth, candies. A more elaborate 
luncheon could be given if desired, but that just de- 
scribed was inexpensive, easy to prepare, and could 
be served quickly, so that there was little delay. 

The hostesses decorated their own tables with the 
same color-scheme in mind. "We chose red and white, 
though different colors could be used according to 
flowers in season. Little painted cards containing 
missionary texts were given as favors, and music was 
rendered between courses. 

In this way fifty people had the five important 
phases of our society's work presented to them, and 
the hostesses became acquainted with fifty different 
women. We nearly doubled our membership as a 
result of this tea, our pledges to missions were in- 
creased, new missionary-magazine subscriptions were 
obtained, and our society gained in every way. In a 
large church like ours this would certainly be a suc- 
cessful way to stimulate interest in missionary work, 
but the same plan could be followed in a smaller 
church, where there are fewer women, by having a 
smaller number at each table. 

Katherine H. Dickson. 



AN INTERESTING PICTURE 
EVENING 

TO FOLLOW a church supper a most entertain- 
ing and instructive picture evening was ar- 
ranged by a church society as an entertain- 
ment. Such a social evening would be well worth 
an admission fee for the purpose of raising money. 

First they selected a good committee who divided 
the work carefully among themselves, each taking a 
particular part for which to be responsible. One col- 
lected, from anybody in the parish who had them and 
were willing to loan them, old ambrotypes, daguerreo- 
types, tintypes, etc. These were placed on a table 
together and proved very entertaining. A young girl 
attired in a quaint old dress recited Phebe Cary's 
"Old Pictures.' ' 

On another table were photographs beginning with 
the very earliest taken, and an amateur photographer 
gave a sketch of the growth and improvement of this 
art. Another table was covered with magazines be- 
ginning way back in the fifties and coming down to 
the present-day, beautifully illustrated ones. The 
walls of the room showed a great variety of pictures 
of all kinds. Never was such a collection shown, from 
the oldest oil paintings and family portraits to the 
34 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 35 

latest in these lines, with pencil, pen, ink and crayon 
sketches — some made long ago, others by aspiring 
young artists — colored crayons and the latest water- 
color sketches, pictures embroidered by the grand- 
mothers of those present, photogravures, woodcuts, 
steel engravings — all vied with each other for imme- 
diate attention, and attention they did receive, for 
there was no one who had a picture there but who 
wished to be present to see if it were appreciated. 

A generous photographer made silhouettes of the 
heads of the leaders in each department of the church 
work, so the oldest deacon and the youthful president 
of the Junior Endeavor Society were represented, 
and this corner added much amusement to the enter- 
tainment. The making of silhouettes of the visitors 
also might have added to the treasury. 

Those having the entertainment in charge fur- 
nished for each plate at the supper a picture of some 
poet, statesman or author, cut from catalogs of book 
publications and magazines and pasted on cardboard 
and numbered, the committee keeping a list. If by 
chance any one did not know with whom he or she 
was eating it could be easily ascertained. The only 
fault found with this entertainment was that the even- 
ing was not half long enough; and as the exercises 
closed by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" many 
compliments were received for the work, and the 
committee were urged to have another picture even- 
ing for young and old in the church. 

The Minister's Social Helper. 



FAIR OF THE HOLLYHOCK 
LADIES 

SOME weeks before the fair is to be held a chair- 
man of the whole is chosen, and under her a 
number of others; one on place and time, one 
on advertising, one on music, one on refreshments, 
one on entertainment, one on decorations. Besides 
these, there must also be one person responsible for 
each booth, and she will choose her own assistants. 

The posters to be put up about town and in public 
buildings should be large sheets of white paper with 
tall stalks of hollyhock in green and colors standing 
up at the sides, and in the middle the words "The 
Hollyhock Ladies Invite You to Their Fair" (with 
the place and date below). 

The entire committee should meet several times to 
make crepe paper flowers for decorations. Besides 
those for the booths, there should be a large quantity 
of hollyhocks made by winding slender sticks with 
green paper and introducing leaves and flowers on 
wires here and there, like the real plants. When 
finished these are planted in ordinary flowerpots filled 
with earth, and arranged in lines as screens or hedges, 
or in small gardens, or in groups around the room. 

It is not at all necessary to take any great amount 
36 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 37 

of trouble with paper flowers, for dozens of petals 
may be cut out at once by folding sheets of paper, 
and then by drawing them through the hand the 
shape is given. Hollyhocks are circles, drawn into 
little bells; geraniums are little circles with scalloped 
edges; roses are large single petals, curled in the 
palm of the hand with the head of a hatpin, and the 
points twisted together to make the single flower. 
Sunflowers are made by cutting strips of yellow 
paper, making one edge into long points and past- 
ing the strips around brown paper disk-centers of 
cardboard tacked on sticks for stems. 

The rooms and booths should be all in green, to set 
off the flowers effectively, and the booths may be 
large tables with uprights at the corners and canopies 
of green crepe paper or cheesecloth. 

The Hollyhock Ladies are a committee, either of 
chairmen or of others interested in the fair, who are 
to dress in green paper, with tall, pointed hollyhock 
caps on their heads, or they may wear dresses of 
pinks and lavenders and rose; these are merely two 
deep paper flounces sewed on a plain dress skirt, 
with a simple surplice waist of paper and short 
flounces for sleeves. This committee is to stand near 
the entrance door and receive the guests, as though 
at a reception. 

The first booth is for "The Morning Glories.' ' 
Saleswomen will wear pale pink or lavender dresses, 
with caps like inverted morning glories to match. 
They will sell anything suitable for morning use: 
boudoir caps, dressing jackets, tea trays, breakfast 



38 CHURCH SOCIALS 

sets, toilet articles, cross-stitched bath towels and 
wash cloths to match, little guest towels, and soaps 
in boxes. 

The second booth is for "The Sunflowers.' ' This 
may have a hedge all around it of tall flowers in 
pots, and the saleswomen may dress in yellow, with a 
row of sunflower petals around the head. Here are 
offered everything for a morning's work: tin utensils, 
brown baking dishes, novelties in the way of egg beat- 
ers, apple corers and the like, and aprons, bags, 
dusters, and brushes. 

The next booth is for " Johnny- Jump-Ups. ' ' This 
booth may be decorated with bunches of real pansies 
in low bowls of water, and these may be sold during 
the evening, with pots and baskets of brown wicker 
filled with growing pansies. But the specialty here 
is to be small, inexpensive alarm clocks, bought at 
wholesale and sold at an advance price. 

The fourth booth is for the "Sweet Peas." The 
pretty girls presiding here may dress like the morn- 
ing glories, in pinks and lavenders, but each should 
wear a cunning cap made to look like a sweet pea. 
The crepe paper is folded around the face with a 
little peak at the top of the forehead; this is fas- 
tened to the hair, and over it is a small flaring cap, 
also pointed at the top. This is the candy booth, 
and besides everything in that line there may be 
stuffed dates and figs, homemade cakes, salted almonds 
and fudge. 

"The Snap-Dragons,' ' who take care of the next 
booth, may be small girls dressed in two shades of 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 39 

yellow, one quite deep. They will sell toys, dolls and 
popcorn. 

' ' The Four-o 'Clocks ' ' are to have a tea room, made 
by fencing off the corner next with a pretty hedge 
of hollyhocks. Small tables are set out, and a large 
sign is hung overhead with the menu offered : 

Orange Flower Tea 
Nasturtium Sandwiches 
American Beauty Cakes 

Of course these dainties are to be merely the usual 
tea, with bits of orange added, and the sandwiches, 
made with chopped nasturtium buds, may be supple- 
mented by others of lettuce and cheese; the cakes are 
simply very small ones, flavored with almond, and 
iced. 

"The Geraniums , ' are to be represented by sales- 
women selected from dark-haired girls, dressed in 
scarlet with red geranium blossoms on their heads. 
A sign over the booth offers "Geranium Jelly" for 
sale. This is actually crab apple jelly flavored with 
rose geranium, but it may be successfully imitated 
for the fair by making a delicate apple jelly and 
flavoring it with extract of rose. In addition, all 
sorts of canned goods may be sold here, and orders 
taken for pies, cakes, and doughnuts. 

The next booth is for "The Night-Blooming 
Cereus," and is decorated with large flowers like a 
pond lily. Here are sold candles in glass and brass 
sticks, candle shades, small lamps, glass and china trays 
with a pitcher and tumbler on each, little coverlets for 
the feet, bedroom slippers, match boxes, and books 



40 CHURCH SOCIALS 

to read at night. The saleswomen may dress in white 
and wear a cereus flower in the hair. 

"The Roses" occupy the next booth, decorated 
lavishly in pink roses, and they may wear pretty pink 
gowns, or white ones with pink ribbons, and wreaths 
of roses. This booth is for the sale of ice cream in 
glass cups, each one covered with pink crepe paper 
tied with ribbons, and made to slip on and on the 
cups when they are washed; little cakes iced in pale 
pink and pink candies and candied rose leaves are to 
be served also. 

The booth next this is for "Bachelors' Buttons." 
The girls presiding will wear two shades of blue, 
with white gowns, and little round caps with bunches 
of blue bachelors' buttons made of fringed paper on 
their heads. They will sell handkerchiefs, ties, cuff 
links, pen trays, smoking trays, mufflers, college pen- 
nants, pens and pencils, leather goods, and picture 
frames. A specialty might be copies of "A Bach- 
elor's Reverie^" 

The last booth is for ' ' The Gardeners. ' ' This is to 
be served by girls in khaki or large enveloping 
aprons, with sunbonnets and trowels. They will sell 
cut flowers, potted plants, seeds, bulbs, catalogues, 
watering pots, baskets and pots. 

There should be an entertainment, with admission 
fee, in an adjoining room. There may be given one 
of the pretty Flower Cantatas by the children, the 
music and words of which can be found at a music 
store. Or, a charming Poppy Dance could be ar- 
ranged for small children, in costume. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 41 

An auction is a good way to make money, and if 
in advance special cuttings of favorite flowers in 
little pots are collected, these may be auctioned off; 
or growing bulbs, nearly ready to bloom, or Chinese 
lilies in flat bowls. 

For a "grab bag," so essential to the success of 
any fair, have planned a garden of imitation let- 
tuce heads, large and green, made of crepe paper. 
Arrange these on a low platform covered with some- 
thing brown, to represent earth, and underneath each 
head, fastened to it, have some small article worth 
five or ten cents; tie these up with brown paper, like 
bulbs. Anyone may choose his own head of lettuce 
at a price decided upon by the size an'd, after pay- 
ing for it, pull it up. 

There may also be a prize competition, either real 
or imitation ; the latter is more amusing, but an actual 
one may be arranged by each person who can be 
reached entering some prize flower or vegetable, pay- 
ing a small sum for the privilege; prizes may be 
awarded by judges. 

For an imitation flower show, have as many as 
possible contribute some artificial plant made by them- 
selves of paper and wire, but planted in a pot. Some- 
one may give a gorgeous blue rose, twining on a 
tall stick; another may give scarlet lilies of the val- 
ley, or purple carnations. There will be a great deal 
of fun in this exhibition, and by holding it in a small 
room and charging admission considerable money may 
be made. 

During the evening there may be a really attractive 



42 CHURCH SOCIALS 

little concert of old-fashioned ballads, each one on a 
flower. Some of these are: 

Only a Pansy Blossom, The Last Rose of Summer, 
The Chrysanthemum, Marguerite's Daisy Song from 
" Faust, " Sweet Violets, and many others. By get- 
ting a catalogue from a music shop these may easily 
be found. 

A good way to close the day is with a Guessing 
Contest; everyone must pay a fee to enter, and ten 
or twelve persons should be taken to a special room 
and tried at a time, and then as many more, and so 
on. As each one fails to guess correctly he must drop 
out, and the one who wins receives a flower prize. 
Some of the questions may be: 
What was she? (American Beauty.) 
Known as what? (A rose.) 
What was his name? (Sweet William.) 
What did she give him? (Tulips.) 
How did he propose to her? (Aster.) 
To whom did she refer him? (Poppy.) 
What did he say to her? (Forget-me-not.) 
Who married them? (Jack-in-the-Pulpit.) 

At what time? (Four-©' Clock.) 
What fastened his coat? ( Bachelors ' Buttons.) 
What did the guests throw after them? (Lady- 
Slipper.) 

What maid served the wedding feast? (Bouncing 
Bet.) 

What did his rival have? (Bleeding Heart.) 
With what did she rule him? (Golden Rod.) 

Caroline French Benton. 



EASTER PICTORIAL SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL SERVICE 

WITH the modern equipment found in the new 
"Sunday-school Temples" that have been 
springing up all over the country since the 
great "Sunday School for Everybody Movement' ' 
has been under way, augmented by the "Organized 
Class Movement," a pictorial and musical presenta- 
tion of the Easter story can be easily arranged to 
hold the interest of all ages. Enlist the whole school 
in its presentation. Select those who have elocu- 
tionary talent to read or to recite. Arrange musical 
selections so that they may be presented by different 
grades of the school, from the beginners to organ- 
ized adult classes, with special solos or choruses by 
the individual or choir. 

Let the entire program be planned as a setting for 
the presentation of appropriate stereopticon pictures, 
either historic or legendary, of the Easter story. 
Bright carols, responsive readings, poems and other 
material will be found in the many Sunday-school 
leaflets specially published for use at Easter. 

There are a number of pictures which have a tra- 
ditional relation to Easter, such as that of the "White 
Lilies." In ancient days these were common garden 
43 



44 CHURCH SOCIALS 

flowers. They grew everywhere and were taken as 

the symbol of heavenly purity. There is a legend 

that tells how the friends of Jesus came early in the 

morning to visit the tomb, and found the ground, 

which had been barren the night before, covered with 

white lilies. The legend says the Heavenly Father 

had sent the Angel Gabriel to plant them, and from 

that day to this they have been called ' ' Easter lilies. ' ' 

The lilies say: "Behold how we 
Preach, without words, of purity. " 

The anemone is another flower of the Holy Land, 
and, though red in color, is also called a "lily." It 
is supposed, on account of its brilliancy, to be the 
flower to which our Lord referred when He said that 
"even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like 
one of these." 

The association of Jesus with flowers is suggested 
in the picture of "Jesus and Saint John." You re- 
member, one of Hiis little playmates was His cousin 
"John the Baptist." The artist shows the two chil- 
dren getting a jug of water, and all about their feet 
are lovely flowers. 

Perhaps some of you love to gather columbines in 
the spring. If you have looked at them closely you 
will see that they appear much like a group of tiny 
pigeons, their heads bent over a dish. It is said that 
on account of this resemblance they were given the 
name of columbine as "columba" is Latin for dove. 
This brings us to the story of Saint Mark 's in Venice, 
where, at Easter, it is the custom to give the pigeons 
who lodge in its towers a special feast. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 45 

One Palm Sunday, centuries ago, the great doge, 
or chief magistrate, came with all his dignitaries to 
visit San Marco. A flare of silver trumpets an- 
nounced his coming and the magnificence of the pro- 
cession greatly impressed the people, who gathered 
in crowds to see it. The doge wanted to show his 
bounty to his subjects, so he had a number of pigeons, 
each with a piece of paper tied to its leg, released 
above the portico of the church. Of course the 
pigeons were hampered by the paper and were easily 
caught, and the people who were lucky enough to 
catch them took them home and fatted them up for 
their Easter dinners. 

A few of the birds sought refuge up in the dome 

of the church, and because they found safety above 

the very tomb of Saint Mark (for this is where Saint 

Mark is supposed to be buried) the people, who were 

superstitious, thought the good saint had given the 

birds protection and had signified his wish that the 

pigeons should be sacred ever after. From that time 

to the present day they have been safe from the hand 

of man, and that is why they have a special feast on 

Easter Sunday. 

How fair is the rose! 
What a beautiful flower! 

The rose of Sharon grows on the beautiful plain 
of Sharon in Samaria. The slide shows a man in the 
act of gathering it. It is not at all like our rose, 
but it resembles the narcissus. As the rose is the 
emblem of love and purity the mother of our Lord 
is often likened to this loveliest of flowers. 



46 CHURCH SOCIALS 

A picture of the Mount of Olives may be used to 
illustrate the sweet legend of the forget-me-not. The 
story goes that when Christ walked, in the early gray 
of the morning, to the Garden of Gethsemane, He 
looked at the heavens and they flashed into sudden 
splendor, the birds burst into song, the flowers lifted 
their bright faces and smiled at Him. He picked a 
spray of valley lilies and pressed it to His lips. As 
He passed on to the gate His eyes rested on a tiny 
blue flower. He stooped and asked : ' • By what name 
art thou known, little flower?" 

And the flower replied : ' ' Master, I have no name ; 
I was forgotten.' ' 

Then very gently the dear Lord whispered : - * For- 
get-me-not, Forget-me-not. ' ' 

But the lily bells heard the whisper and they rang 
it out to the morning wind, and the wind carried the 
name to all the flowers in the land. Or, as these 
poetic lines give the story: 

When to the flowers so beautiful 

The Father gave a name, 
Back came a little blue-eyed one — 

And timidly it came; 
And, standing at its Father's feet, 

And gazing in His face, 
It said in low and trembling tones 

And with a modest grace: 
"Dear God, the name thou gavest me, 

Alas! I have forgot." 
The Father kindly looked Him down, 

And said: "Forget-me-not." 

But scenes from the life of Jesus, from paintings 
by Henri Hofmann, will inspire that sense of holi- 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 47 

ness which we know must have been felt in the pres- 
ence of our Lord when on earth, and the gentle spirit 
in these pictures gives them a peculiar charm. There 
are many beautiful slides from the works of such 
masters as Murillo, Vandyke, Leonardo da Vinci, 
Munkacsy, Plockhorst, and others, which could be in- 
troduced, but those here suggested, painted by Hof- 
mann, have been chosen because they bear a continu- 
ous relation to each other both in subject and style 
of treatment. 

Presented as a religious service rather than as an 
entertainment the scenes will be most effective. The 
continuous playing on the church organ of selections 
that are based on the scenes portrayed will uncon- 
sciously heighten their effect upon the observer who 
is also a listener. 

Scripture readings, to the softest accompaniment, 
should precede the exposition of each picture, while 
solos and choruses may be rendered as they are shown. 
Music from Handel's "Messiah," Rossini's "Stabat 
Mater," or Stainer's "Crucifixion," could all be 
used, though well-known hymns like "The day of 
Resurrection, earth, tell it out abroad," in which the 
congregation could join, would be equally appro- 
priate. The following pictures are suggested : 

"Come Unto Me." Here is seen the Master, with 
hand outstretched, inviting the weary and heavy laden 
to find rest. Reverent attention can be secured dur- 
ing the reading of the twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth 
and thirtieth verses of the eleventh chapter of Mat- 
thew by playing the air "He Shall Feed His Flock," 



48 CHURCH SOCIALS 

from the " Messiah,' ' followed by the soprano solo, 
1 ' Come Unto Him, ' ' from the same oratorio. 

"The Childhood of Jesus." This could be intro- 
duced by the playing of the pastoral symphony from 
the "Messiah," followed by the solo "Breathe Your 
Soft Prayer to Christ the Child," by C. B. Hawley. 
Reading, Luke ii : 40. 

"With the Doctors in the Temple" depicts the 
Lord as a beautiful boy of twelve talking with the 
Jewish teachers about "His Father's business." 

"In My Father's House," by W. F. Sudds, could 
be appropriately sung, preceded by the reading of 
Luke ii: 41-52. 

"With the Woman of Samaria" shows Jesus at 
Jacob's well telling a woman of that country "all 
things whatsoever she did. ' ' Reading, John iv : 3-15. 

"Blessing the Children" portrays the Savior in 
His divine gentleness and is one of the most beautiful 
of all the pictures. A chorus of children could ap- 
propriately sing the well-known hymn beginning: 

I think when I read that sweet story of old, 

When Jesus was here among men, 
How He called little children as lambs to His fold 

I should like to have been with them then. 

"The Raising of Jairus' Daughter" may follow, 
"But When Jesus Had Put Them All Out," from 
Stainer's "Daughter of Jairus," being sung. 

"Cleansing the Temple." This picture shows the 
Lord in the act of driving from His house the pro- 
faners of His holy temple, and it should be accom- 
panied by more vigorous music. "Andante," opus 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 49 

26, by Beethoven, is appropriate. Reading, Matthew 
xxi: 12-14. 

"Sin no More. " That the Lord is all lovingkind- 
ness, even to sinners, is shown in the picture of the 
erring woman. John viii : 7-11, should be read, after 
which "0 Lord, Correct Me," by Handel, may be 
sung. 

"Anointing the Lord's Feet." This may follow 
without interruption during the singing of " Lord, 
Correct Me, ' ' Mark xiv : 3-9, being read at the con- 
clusion of the song. 

"Mary and Martha." A quiet home scene is here 
depicted. Luke x : 38-42, should be read as an intro- 
duction, the gospel hymn, "Take Time to be Holy," 
being applicable to the Marthas of today who are 
"cumbered about much serving." 

"The Holy Supper." This shows the Lord in the 
act of partaking of His last meal with His disciples. 
Matthew xxvi : 19-32, should be read, after which the 
singing of "He Was Despised," from the "Mes- 
siah," would be appropriate. The accompaniment 
may be continued as. the next picture is shown. 

" Gethsemane. " This shows the disciples heavy 
with sleep, their Lord a little distance from them in 
the act of prayer. The hymn, ' ' 'Tis midnight ; in 
the garden now, The suffering Savior prays alone," 
could be sung after the reading of Matthew xxvi: 
36-46. 

' ' Before Pilate. ' ' Here we see the Lord in purple 
robe and crown of thorns, a guiltless prisoner. John 
xix : 1-6, 14-16, should be read, followed by the con- 



50 CHURCH SOCIALS 

tralto solo, ' 1 Sacred Head, ' ' by Grenzel, or, ' ' What 
Will You Do With Jesus?" 

"On the Way to Golgotha.'' This picture may be 
exposed while "0 Sacred Head" is still being sung, 
the reading of Luke xxiii : 27, 28, following. 

"The Cross." The reading of verses 25 to 30 in- 
clusive of John xix should precede this picture, and 
the song, "At the Foot of the Cross," by Rodney, 
would make an effective musical number during its 
exposition. 

"The Burial." This picture may be introduced 
as Beethoven's "Funeral March" is being played. 
At the appropriate place in the reading of Luke 
xxiii : 50-56, which touches on the friendship of 
Joseph, the scene is changed to: 

"At the Sepulchre." There is a hopefulness in 
this picture which all are bound to feel. "In the 
Quiet Tomb," by Beethoven, may be played. 

"The Resurrection." Joy returns with "the 
brightness of His rising." After the reading of 
John xx : 11-17, the celebrated air, ' ' I Know That 
My Redeemer Liveth," from the "Messiah," could 
be rendered, or the stirring Easter hymn, "Jesus 
Christ is Risen Today," sung by the entire congre- 
gation. 

The service may close at this point, though other 
pictures may be added to complete the history of our 
Lord's life upon earth if desired. 

The Minister's Social Helper. 



THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL AEMY 

A Flag Exercise for Children's Day 
By Ada Simpson Sherwood 

The children march in, two and two, one of each 
couple carrying a United States flag, and the other 
carrying a Conquest flag. A larger boy and girl lead, 
the boy carrying a large United States flag, and the 
girl a large Conquest flag. As they reach the platform 
the leaders take positions in the center front, hold 
their flags high and cross them, making an arch for 
the others to pass under, after which the couples sep- 
arate, turning to the left and right; the children march 
single file in two large circles, then form in groups on 
each side of the platform, with the smaller children in 
front. The children and flags should be so arranged 
that there are an equal number of United States flags 
and Conquest flags on each side of the platform. If 
the time and size of the platform permit the marching 
might be prolonged. As the children come in and 
march on the platform they sing the Marching Song. 

Marching Song 

Tune — * ' Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are March- 
ing." 

There's a sound of eager feet 

Marching through our land today, 

Going forth beneath the Banner of the Cross; 

'Tis an army brave and strong, 

And we hope you all belong, 

That the cause we love may never suffer loss. 
51 



52 CHURCH SOCIALS 

Chorus 

Tramp, tramp, tramp, the hosts are marching; 

The Sunday-schools, a mighty throng, 
Songs of triumph as they go 
Bravely forth to meet the foe, 

With the mighty power to conquer sin and wrong. 

Much our country needs today 
This unfailing strong defense, 

That for justice, true and right shall ever stand; 
For this army tried and true, 
Guards our red and white and blue, 

'Tis the home guard that defends our native land. 

Chorus. 

At the conclusion of the song the boy and girl who 
act as leaders step out to face the children without 
turning their backs to the audience, and ask: 

Boy Leader (striking his United States flag staff 
upon the floor): Attention! 
[All stand very erect and hold flags straight.] 

Boy Leader: What do we represent 1 ? 

All: The Sunday-school Army. 

Leader: What is our aim? 

All: The world for Christ. 

Leader: What are our numbers'? 

All: Nearly fifteen millions in the United States. 

Leader: Why do we carry our Stars and Stripes'? 

First Voice: Because we love our flag, and the 
institutions of liberty, and the equality for which it 
stands. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 53 

Second Voice: Because we love our country, and 
are ever ready to save her from foes without and 
within. 

Third Voice: Because the Sunday-school is our 
country's strong defense, and helps to train its citi- 
zens in patriotism. 

Girl Leader (with Conquest flag) : Who is our 
Leader? 

All: Jesus Christ. 

Leader: Why should we follow Him? 

Fourth Voice: Because we believe in the power 
of Jesus Christ to save mankind from sin and evil. 

Leader: Why do we carry the Conquest flag? 

Fifth Voice : Because we believe that only through 
the Cross of Christ can the world be conquered for 
righteousness. 

Leader: What are our marching orders? 

Sixth Voice: Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, 
lay hold on eternal life. 

Seventh Voice : Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, 
quit you like men, be strong. 

Eighth Voice : Wherefore, take unto you the whole 
armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the 
evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 

Ninth Voice : Go ye into all the world and preach 
the Gospel to every creature. - . 

Leader: Why should we go into all the world? 

All : Because God so loved the world that He gave 
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Leader: What are we promised? 



54 CHURCH SOCIALS 

All: He that overcometh shall inherit all things, 
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even 
our faith. 

Leader: To whom shall we look for guidance 1 ? 

All: Our Heavenly Father. 

[All bow heads and repeat the following prayer. 
Prayer 

We thank Thee, our Father, for brightness and cheer, 
For the flag that we love, and our country so dear; 
For Thy gift to the world of Thine own precious Son, 
For the joy in His service, the victories won. 

Oh, guide our dear country in righteousness ' way; 
Let the power of our Savior forever hold sway, 
And help us, each one, our own duty to see, 
To our brothers, our country, and, Father, to Thee. 

Amen. 

[Boy step" out with the United States flag j,nd recites. 
We love our country's flag, 

To her our hearts are true. 
Our strength we'll lend to e'er defend 

Our own red, white and blue. 

[Girl on the other side of the platform steps out with 
Conquest flag and recites. 

We love our Conquest flag, 

To Jesus we'll be true, 
And in His might and for the right 
We'll strive His will to do. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 55 

[Lower the Conquest flags and wave the United States 
flags while all sing. 

Flag of the Brave and Free 
Tune — "Vive la Coinpagnie" 

Oh, glorious banner, of th^e we will sing, 

Flag of the brave and free. 
Thy folds to the breezes we joyfully fling, 

Flag of the brave and free. 
Red for the dawning of Liberty 's day, 
White for the pure souls that will love thee for aye. 
Blue for the heavens that shield thee alway 

And guard thee on land and on sea. 

Protecting the lowly, wherever unfurled, 

Flag of the brave and free. 
By land the glad refuge for all of the world, 

Flag of the brave and free. 
Emblem of freedom, our hope and our pride, 
Honored and loved o'er the land far and wide, 
Stained with the blood of the heroes who died 

To save thee and blest Liberty. 

Float on, glorious banner, in freedom's glad light, 

Flag of the brave and free. 
Thy fair constellation unsullied and bright, 

Flag of the brave and free. 
Rainbow, bright banner, oh, long may it wave, 
Upheld by the noble, the true and the brave, 
Wide-spreading its folds to protect and to save 

And cherishing blest Liberty. 



56 CHURCH SOCIALS 

[Lower the United States flags and raise the Conquest 
flags during this song, waving them in the chorus. 

The Conquest Banner 

Tune— "The Battle Cry of Freedom. " 

There 's a mighty conquering army throughout our 
land today, 
Marching beneath the Conquest banner. 
In the Cross of Christ it triumphs and follows in 
His way, 
Marching beneath the Conquest banner. 

Chorus 

The Sunday-school Army, 
With banners of light ! 
It knows no surrender, 

It stands for the right, 
And we'll take the world for Jesus 

And conquer in His might, 
Marching beneath the Conquest banner. 

No stronger, mightier force ever battled with the foe, 
Marching beneath the Conquest banner, 

And with Jesus for our Leader we conquer as we go, 
Marching beneath the Conquest banner. 

Come, join the happy ranks of this army brave and 
strong, 
Marching beneath the Conquest banner, 
With hope and courage bright, and with cheerful, 
happy song, 
Marching beneath the Conquest banner. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 57 

If the children are to leave the platform let them 
start to march at the beginning of the last chorus, 
and continue singing until they have left the room 
or reached their seats, as the case may be. If they 
are to be seated on the platform let them reverse the 
march by which they reached their places, passing 
two and two beneath the arch and then to their seats. 
Have all of the parts, songs and Scripture thoroughly 
committed so that none of those taking part need to 
look on book or paper. Have as many children in 
the march as the space will permit. 

In planning the entrance, if the children start to 
sing the Marching Song at a distance the interest of 
the audience will be aroused. 



BED AND BLUE CONTEST 

A CONNECTICUT girl, who is a clergyman's 
daughter, has sent me an interesting account 
of a most successful contest. She says : ' ' Last 
October the society was divided into two sections, the 
Reds and the Blues, each side having a leader. The 
contest was to last until February, with the under- 
standing that the losing side was to give a social to 
the winning side. 

"The rules were: 

' ' 1. The color having the largest number at prayer 
meetings and business meetings will gain a mark. 

' ' 2. The color obtaining the most new members will 
receive a mark. 

"3. If the number of the two colors is equal each 
will receive a mark. 

"4. To be counted as present the members must 
be present not later than half an hour after the time 
for the meeting to begin. 

"5. Dues must be reported monthly. 

"Two charts were made and hung in the chapel: 
one tied with red ribbon, the other with blue. The 
side gaining a point made a mark on its chart with a 
colored pencil corresponding to the color of its side. 

"As soon as the contest began great interest was 
58 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 59 

aroused. The sides kept along quite evenly. How 
the contest would end was not known until the last 
business meeting, but the result was that the two sec- 
tions came out even, amid great excitement. A com- 
mittee from each side was chosen to plan for the so- 
cial. This contest was a benefit to our society along 
several lines. Nineteen new members were added. 
Before the contest many of our members were care- 
less about paying their dues. During the contest all 
but two of the members paid, and we believe that the 
most of us have formed the habit of paying. Our 
Sunday evening devotional meetings and our Wednes- 
day evening prayer meetings had been very well 
attended, but during the contest the attendance was 
nearly doubled. At first some of the members came 
for the sake of being counted, but the meetings be- 
came so interesting that they soon came for the sake 
of the meeting. While the meetings increased in 
number they also increased in quality, and some who 
had kept their talents buried in a napkin began to use 
them to their own good and the help of others. 

" Other churches hearing of the success of this con- 
test are trying the same plan with similar success. 

"The contest was a friendly one, and we began 
by singing: 

1 Blest be the tie that binds 
Our hearts in Christian love.' 

And with the same feeling of love for one another 
that we had at the beginning we ended by singing 
heartily the same hymn." 



WELCOMING THE TEACHEES 

HERE is another interesting story. Doesn't it 
suggest, girls, that your society might ar- 
range a special welcome to the new teachers 
in your town who may be eager to make friends? 
The teachers in our public schools constitute a class 
of citizens that ordinarily receive little social recog- 
nition. They go to their work every morning, return 
to their homes or boarding-places every evening, and 
put in many spare hours in study and preparation 
for the classes of the next day. And many a teacher 
becomes a recluse for no other cause than this very 
social isolation. School-teachers, as a rule, are Chris- 
tians, and are helping to mould and shape the moral 
as well as the intellectual lives of the children. This 
being true the church should do something practical 
to encourage these teachers, and should help the new 
ones in a town to "lose that lonesome feeling. " 

A number of the members in one church society 
decided to give a reception to all the teachers in the 
city, the superintendent and the school board. Plans 
were laid to hold this reception early in the month of 
September at the opening of the school session. 

As many of the teachers were strangers in the city 
and did not know each other, every one was tagged 
60 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 61 

on entering the reception-room. On each tag the 
name and local address of the teacher were written, 
together with her native State. These tags were 
pinned on by means of a dainty ribbon, so that every- 
body could see who his neighbor was. 

At the entrance of the reception-room the presi- 
dent of the society and his wife, with the pastor and 
his wife, received the teachers as they came in. The 
superintendent of schools stood at the door to intro- 
duce the new teachers. 

At one end of the room had been arranged a bank 
of flowers, which served as a screen, behind which 
an orchestra furnished music during the entire even- 
ing. This flower screen was made of asparagus and 
tamarisk branches fastened into a net, backed by a 
piece of green cambric. Tucked in all over the front 
were asters, and large bouquets of asters were ar- 
ranged on stands at each end of the screen. 

During the evening the pastor spoke a few formal 
words of welcome, which were responded to by the 
superintendent of schools. One of the business men, 
who had five children in the schools, paid a splendid 
tribute to the teachers. A social hour with refresh- 
ments followed. 

The reception was a great success in every way. 
The school-teachers became acquainted with each 
other. They were recognized in a public way, and 
there was a warm place in their hearts for the church 
which gave the reception. The tags which they left, 
as they departed for home, placed their local ad- 
dresses in the pastor's hands. 



HALLOWEEN MEREYMAKINGS 

For the Young People of the Church 

THE old Halloween ceremonies, when they were 
seriously observed, were too thrilling and pic- 
turesque to be allowed later to pass out of 
sight, so now instead of attaching any significance, 
religious or otherwise, to the old customs we have 
turned them into harmless merrymakings. 

Do you know that when you bob for apples you 
are following a superstitious practice of the heathen 
Druids who on November first lighted their fires to 
Baal? But in some countries the bonfires are kindled 
in honor of the harvest and home-coming festivals at 
that time, and if your society wants to enjoy an even- 
ing of fireside revelries why not make Halloween the 
home-coming night after all have returned from the 
summer outings'? 

Here is a form of entertainment which employs the 
old beloved symbols of the night and yet is less bois- 
terous than apple-ducking and taffy-pulling: 

A pumpkin, a large ear of yellow field-corn, a pint 
of peanuts in the shell, a pound of pecans in the 
shell, a basket of apples, one beautiful chrysanthe- 
mum, a large bunch of Malaga grapes, and a bough 
of red oak leaves are the requisites for the entertain- 
62 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 63 

ment. And these same articles may serve as decora- 
tions for the assembly-room during the evening. 

The game is to guess the number of parts of each 
one of the list, for instance : 

How many grains on the ear of com? 

How many seeds in the pumpkin ? 

How many grapes in the bunch ? 

How many pecans in a pound? 

How many petals on the chrysanthemum? 

How many peanuts in a pint ? 

How many leaves on the oak bough? 

How many apples in the basket? 

The answers when this game was played a year ago 
were, respectively, 851, 474, 154, 93, 439, 37, 140, 46. 
They will serve as an indication of the possible an- 
swers, for, of course, they would never be twice the 
same. 

The husks of the corn were stripped back far 
enough to grant a view of the entire length. This 
was suspended by a ribbon in the doorway ; the bunch 
of grapes was also suspended in the same way. The 
oak bough decorated almost a whole comer in the 
room, being hung on a nail driven high in the wall. 
The chrysanthemum stood in a tall vase on a table, 
and the nuts were in glass dishes on small tables. 
The apples were the little "snow apples" placed in 
a pretty basket. The seeds of the pumpkin had been 
dried in the oven and were also in a glass dish. A 
fine specimen of pumpkin should be selected; after 
taking out the seeds cut a round lid from the top 
and wash the pumpkin and lid carefully. 



64 CHURCH SOCIALS 

The entertainment appealed to the men, and, as 
you know, they are sometimes hard to interest in 
these things; but what man or boy does not like to 
try his powers of calculation 1 ? There was a prize 
appropriate to the question for the best calculator. 
For the grains of corn, an imitation ear of corn filled 
with bonbons, procurable at the confectioner's; for 
the seeds of the pumpkin, the pumpkin itself filled 
with taffy " kisses/ ' etc. Of course, the answers had 
actually been obtained beforehand, except in the case 
of the chrysanthemum, which was judged by one sec- 
tion of the flower, and the grapes, which were counted 
after the company had guessed. 

But if you do not want to start these games until 
you are sure all have arrived, and want to break up 
any formality, have you tried the plan of tying a 
paper bag on the right hand of the guests and ask- 
ing them to wear the bags until they have worn them 
out shaking hands'? 

Another good way to get the company into conver- 
sational groups is to give to each group seventy-five 
toothpicks and let them print a sentence by laying 
the little pieces of wood in order. Quotations from 
Mother Goose could be called for, as "Jack Spratt 
could eat no fat. ' ' 

To elaborate the decorations, portieres may be made 
by stringing on heavy black thread black cats and 
witches cut from heavy black paper and yellow paper 
crescents; threaded corn may also be used for por- 
tieres, held back by bunches of the corn in their 
husks. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 65 

A good game a little out of the ordinary is pull- 
ing the cabbages. At a party where this was played 
one of the smaller rooms had been kept closed all 
evening. In it were rows of "cabbages" made of 
green paper, and "pumpkins" made of yellow paper. 
Both "cabbages" and "pumpkins" were very small 
specimens. There were about seventy-five of each in 
the room, and they were made to represent the au- 
tumn garden as much as possible, with the aid of 
vines, old weeds, corn-stalks, autumn leaves, and other 
seasonable trimming. 

Ten young men and ten girls were asked to take 
part in this game. They were stationed at the farther 
end of the room from the "Cabbage Patch," the 
young men in the front row. Five of the young men 
were to gather pumpkins, and five cabbages. Only 
one pumpkin or cabbage was to be pulled at a time; 
it was to be brought to the partner, and the trip 
made for another, and so on until there were no 
more to be had. The young man who brought his 
lady the greatest number of cabbages and the one who 
gathered the greatest number of pumpkins each re- 
ceived a prize. They started at a signal, and as but 
one of the "fruits" could be brought at a trip the 
fun was fast and furious. 

To produce an effective stir-up in drawing a good 
attendance at a social the following folder form of 
invitation has been used with success. This provides 
also for any expenses that may be incurred in making 
the evening both enjoyable and unusual. Page one 
has this announcement: 



66 CHURCH SOCIALS 

A Round-Robin Invitation 

to the 

Annual Halloween " Grand-Get-Together ' ' 

of the Young People's Society 

of Church 

(Place and Date) 
(See Inside) 

On page two : l ' You are personally invited by the 
last one named on the opposite page. You, in turn, 
are expected to sign your name on the next line and 
extend the invitation to some one of the church whom 
you would like to attend, alternately girls and boys. 
An expense charge of ten cents will be made. The 
tenth person receiving will please sign and bring the 
invitation on Halloween. If you do not care to come 
please return this invitation without your name to 
the one from whom you received it. Do not sign 
more than one invitation. ' ' Page three is ruled with 
ten numbered lines for signatures. 

Ten of these printed forms will reach one hundred 
persons with a personal invitation; more forms may 
be started if desired. It will be obvious that when 
each invitation has been passed to five persons there 
will be quite a searching to discover the ones who 
have not been invited, and incidentally the first ones 
invited will have been accosted enough to arouse their 
desire to attend. The invitations being returned, the 
names on each may be used to form a group for 
games or tables at supper. 

Of course you will want the Halloween " atmos- 
phere/ ' as authors call it, and there are many ways 
to get it. One is to plan a ' ' Witches ' Encampment, ' ' 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 67 

having, say, half a dozen tents wherein are tried 
the various Halloween tricks of divination; for in- 
stance, a large tub of pink water in one tent is pre- 
sided over by one of the witches. Three candles float, 
lighted, in candlesticks upon the water, a pink one 
named for the girl whose fortune is to be told, and 
two white ones named secretly by her. The witch 
tells the fortune by the course each white candle takes. 
Another witch has a cake containing the usual ring, 
thimble and piece of money. You will want a row 
of grinning goblins at the entrance, with pumpkin 
heads mounted on seven-foot poles draped in cheese- 
cloth and provided with crosspieces to represent skel- 
eton arms. At the door have two witches who give 
out cards, "Redeem at the caldron," and these may 
be presented any time during the evening, but in- 
stead of the witches' "brew" they are more up to 
date, and offer you fruit punch. 

To arrange for a seemingly impromptu program it 
is very amusing to have a witch preside over a ' ' Stunt 
Ball." Inflate a punching-bag, then wind over it 
three skeins of wool; in the last skein tie at intervals 
slips of paper on which you have written "stunts," 
as a boy ties scraps of newspaper on twine for the 
tail of his kite. The ball will arouse the curiosity 
of the guests. After the guests are assembled the 
witch announces: "This is the ball of fate or 
stunts." It is unwound quickly and the first 
"stunt" is that the president of your society should 
act as Stunt-Master for the evening. Second, the 
president's wife will wind the yarn with care, so 



68 CHURCH SOCIALS 

that her mother can use it for knitting a scarf for 
an Alaskan Indian. Third, all of the company please 
rise and join in singing the first stanza of "Home, 
Sweet Home. ' ' Fourth, ' ' Our own art"st on the spot, ' ' 
Miss B, will now make a sketch. Fifth, Miss A will 
show her skill by adorning a hat with the United 
States colors — red, white and blue. Sixth, Mr. W, 
please sing us a song, like a good fellow! Seventh, 
Miss V will show her benevolence by giving that 
young bachelor, Mr. A, a lesson in darning socks. 
Eighth, Miss K will kindly favor us with a violin 
solo. Ninth, Miss C, please give an illustration of 
your favorite method of getting rid of agents. Tenth, 
Mr. J W will be kind enough to draw his lt castle 
in the air." Eleventh, a whistling solo from Mr. B, 
the United States Bullfinch, is now in order. Or 
strictly Halloween tricks may be called for, like 
blowing out candles blindfolded, biting an apple sus- 
pended by a string, etc. 

"A Shadowy Wise Man" is a novelty He should 
be enveloped in white and remain out of sight until 
the conductor of this part of the program has made 
his introductory speech telling of the marvelous wis- 
dom which is about to be imparted. The conductor 
should be a good talker, capable of making original 
remarks for the amusement of the audience. After 
the introduction the Wise Man silently and solemnly 
appears and takes his seat. The conductor then asks 
for volunteers to come forward and throw their 
shadows so as to strike the head of the Wise Man. 
As each applicant throws the shadow the Wise Man 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 69 

hands to the conductor one of the written slips, which 
is read by the conductor in a very pompous manner. 
The following are fair samples of the Shadowy Wise 
Man's " words of wisdom": 

If you wish to do good acts go around cold mornings 
and get up for people, or go around among undecided 
people and make up their minds. 

If you place your hand on a hot stove, by mistake or 
otherwise, it would be well to remove it at your earliest 
convenience, as this is one way in which to prevent un- 
pleasant consequences. 

If you have an excellent cook and are paying her noth- 
ing it would be wise to double her wages. 

If a gentleman rides horseback with a lady he should 
always ride on the right side. According to some autho- 
rities the right side is the left. According to others the 
other is the right. If the gentleman is left-handed this 
will, of course, make a difference. Should he be ambi- 
dextrous it will be indifferent. 

It will be quite in keeping with the uncanniness of 
the evening to have the "Sandwiches" suddenly ap- 
pear and march solemly around the room, to the deaf- 
ening music of serving-trays lustily beaten with the 
knuckles. They are dressed in white with yellow ker- 
chiefs and black and yellow witches' caps two feet 
tall, made of paper. These witches solemnly file out 
and presently reappear with nut sandwiches, Wal- 
dorf salad and little English cakes: for Halloween, 
besides being "Nutcraek Night," was also the time 
when good people would "bake brade and dele it for 
all crysten soules," and even yet, they say, in some 
parts it is called "Cake Night," because the house- 
wife bakes a cake for every one of her family. 
The Minister's Social Helper. 



CHBISTMAS IN THE SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL 

HOW to make a pleasant Christmas for the 
Sunday-school is an annual problem. A tree 
with gifts of equal value for all, a treat of 
candy and nuts — these and many other schemes have 
been tried with a greater or lesser degree of success. 
But often the criticism is made that the children do 
not partake enough of the spirit of the day, of the 
precious privilege of giving. 

The superintendent of a Sunday-school in one of 
the thriving little cities of Southern Michigan called 
the teachers together a few weeks before Christmas 
and proposed to eliminate entirely the idea of " get- 
ting something,' ' and in its stead to try to teach 
something of the blessedness of giving. 

Now it happened that in this town the people were 
all enthusiastic over the building of a new city hos- 
pital, and some ambitious persons were anxious that 
this church should own a free bed therein. So the 
officers and teachers talked it over and decided that 
the superintendent should tell the children about the 
hospital and ask them if they did not think it would 
be a fine thing to help endow a bed therein, and be 
able to send there poor little boys and girls and sick 
70 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 71 

mammas and papas who could not afford the neces- 
sary treatment at home, where they could become 
strong and well again. The children were told also 
that while at home they would receive all the usual 
presents, of course they would not get anything what- 
ever from the Sunday-school. The story of Jesus 
and how He gave his life and how He liked best 
the gifts that cost us something was told to them, 
and they were asked to save their pennies, instead 
of spending them for candy and nuts, to help buy 
a bed in that new city hospital. It was put to a 
vote and every little hand was raised, although it may 
be confessed that a few went up a little reluctantly. 

Teachers and young ladies met a few evenings 
later and made little stockings out of cheap cambric, 
with a cord put into the top of each in such a man- 
ner that it could be drawn together so the pennies 
could not be lost out. The stockings were about five 
mches long and of various bright colors, and there 
were enough so that every child could have one. 

Christmas Eve, near the close of the regular pro- 
gram, the curtains were drawn aside to display a 
prettily trimmed Christmas tree, but without a single 
present upon it. Then while the children sang a 
little song about giving they marched to the plat- 
form and each child hung his own little stocking, 
full of pennies, upon the tree and then passed on 
down to his seat. Two young ladies were stationed 
there to help the tots, and the small patent snaps 
made for fastening articles upon a tree were used 
so there would be no undue delay at this time. 



72 CHURCH SOCIALS 

The audience thoroughly enjoyed this part of the 
program, for of course some of the tots insisted upon 
hanging up their own little stockings, and their awk- 
ward attempts afforded much suppressed amusement 
to the onlookers. 

Just after this six little boys and girls passed 
through the audience with small stockings of various 
colors. The tops of these had been neatly sewed 
around little circles of wire to keep them open, and 
thus any inconvenience in dropping the coins inside 
was avoided. The audience responded nobly, and the 
six little folks also hung these stockings upon the 
tree. 

And now they were told again the story of the 
Savior and His gift to men, and all about the bed 
to be put into the new city hospital and how they 
had had a part in providing it, and that always when 
they heard of any poor invalid occupying it they 
could think to themselves, ' ' We helped to make it 
possible for him to go there; our pennies helped to 
pay for his bed and treatment ' ' ; and then they were 
told that of course they could not have all that money 
counted before they left that evening, and the super- 
intendent shook some of the stockings to let them 
hear the jingle, and he told them he knew it was a 
generous offering, and how they must all look in the 
next morning's paper to see how much it really was. 

Watching the children's enthusiastic little faces 
many noted that there seemed to be no lack of en- 
joyment because there were no presents. 

Every city does not have a new hospital in the 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 73 

building, but there must be other things. What about 
sending a purse to some home missionary for the 
Sunday-school which he is trying to build upf 

One idea which may bring cheer to hospital pa- 
tients and may be carried out by a Sunday-school 
is the hanging of a Christmas wreath in every win- 
dow of the building. 

Another idea, which was tried by a Sunday-school 
class in a convalescent women's ward, was the pro- 
viding of a sufficient number of favors to distribute 
one to each invalid at regular intervals during the 
entire day. All the gifts were concealed under a 
huge star-shaped lid, thirty-eight inches across, 
mounted on pegs eight inches high. Each gift was 
tied with long ribbon, on one end of which was a 
red cardboard star bearing on one side the cheeriest 
Christmas quotation that could be found and on the 
other a hand-painted bit of holly. The attendants 
enjoyed the distribution as well as the patients and 
dropped in to see the fun. 

A Tennessee Sunday-school one year sent their 
gifts to a Baptist orphanage. Each child in the 
Home was allowed to write a letter asking for three 
things. They asked for such sensible things that it 
was agreed to give each child one of the three things 
asked for. Then with the rest of the money they 
bought pillow-cases, sheets and counterpanes, while 
one of the largest classes in the school donated 
stockings. 

One pastor's wife starts a Chinese lily in October 
for each invalid in the church, and at Christmas has 



74 CHURCH SOCIALS 

flowery messengers of cheer to send into their sick- 
rooms. 

Suggested Programs for Four Departments 

The following selections have been chosen for sim- 
ple Sunday-school entertainments, eliminating the 
character of Santa Claus. Some of them will fit 
especially well into the "Giving" entertainment. 

Beginners ' Program 

Carol— " Christ is Born Today." 
Exercise — ' ' Welcome. ' ' 
Story— "First Christmas Gift." 
Carol— Luther's "Cradle Song." 
Recitation— "Why?" 
Recitation — ' ' Mother 's Present. ' ' 
Carol- "Christmas Day." 
Story — ' ' Christmas Cobwebs. ' ' 
Exercise — "Christmas Sunshine." 
Carol — "Once* in Royal David's City." 

Primary Program 

Carol— "Ring Out, Ye Christmas Bells." 

Recitation— "What Can I Give Him?" 

Carol— ' ' Little Lights. ' > 

Recitation — ' ' Christmas. ' ' 

Story of Christmas. 

Recitation — "Babe of Bethlehem." 

Holly Song. 

Carol— "0 Little Town of Bethlehem." 

Exercise — ' ' Christmas Morning. ' ' 

Carol — "Message of the Bells." 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 75 

Junior Program 

Carol— "There Came Three Kings." 

Reading — " Scripture Story of Christmas. ' ' 

Recitation — " Three Kings." 

Carol— "Hail, Blessed Light." 

Exercise — "Christmas Parcel Postmen.' ' 

Duet — "What Christmas Means." 

Recitation — ' ' Christmas Night. ' ' 

Carol— "Bethlehem." 

Recitation — ' ' Christmas Tree. ' ' 

Carol — "Keep on Ringing the Christmas Bells." 

Intermediate Program 

Carol — "King of Kings." 
Reading — ' ' Scripture Story. ' ' 
Carol— "Ring Ye Bells." 
Recitation — ' ' Christmas Sheaf. ' ' 
Carol — ' ' Angel 's Song. ' ' 
Exercise — ' ' Christmas Pack. ' ' 
Recitation — "A Plantation Christmas." 
Carol — "New Born King." 
Exercise — ' ' Christmas Box. ' ' 
Carol— "Christmas Bells Ring On." 

New Services and Novel Decorations 

Here is a complete Christmas service of story and 
song entitled "Sirack— The Hill Shepherd." It is 
very pleasing and needs only a leader and chorus 
choir for its rendition. 

The music of the world's great composers is being 
introduced in our Sunday-schools. 



76 CHURCH SOCIALS 

A service of Christmas Classics comprises the fol- 
lowing carols, based on well-known compositions so 
arranged as to be within the capabilities of every 
school : 

1 i Night Divine" (Noel) — Adolph Adam. 

1 ' Eing the Bells ' '—Handel. 

"Silvery Light" (Traumerei) — Schumann. 

' ' Wondrous Gift ' '—Verdi. 

"Bethlehem" (Melody in F) — Bubinstein. 

' ' The Shepherds ' ' — Handel. 

1 ' Sweet Thy Peace ' '— Elgar. 

"Prince of Peace" (Angel's Serenade) — Braga. 

' ' Herald Song ' ' — Meyerbeer. 

"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" — Mendelssohn. 

"Bells of Eejoicing" (Eose Maiden) — Cowen. 

For the small children at their own entertainment 
it is pretty to have as many of the scrub evergreen 
trees as you can get arranged like a grove. Each 
tree should bear a different kind of decoration: some 
with snow, some with fruit, some with flowers, and 
some with the usual Christmas-tree ornaments. On 
one or two of the trees, if you have a number, or scat- 
tered among the other decorations if you only have 
a few trees, hang the remembrances for the children. 
It will give them great pleasure to hunt among the 
trees for the gifts bearing their names. 

Many a decorating committee wants new ideas for 
Christmas. Decorating a church for Christmas to 
imitate a wood after a snowfall is a novel idea. This 
is suitable for a country church or a church in a 
town near woods where evergreen trees abound and 
boys are plentiful. Select young and slender trees 
of suitable height for the front of the church. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 77 

Branches may be used for the sides of the church. 
Bits of cotton may be placed on the branches of trees 
and logs here and there and sprinkled with diamond 
dust to give the desired effect. Any one who has 
seen the woods in winter can easily arrange this scene. 

Packing a "Missionary" Barrel 

Did you ever help pack a home missionary box? 
If so you know how serviceable and useful every 
article is which goes in — warm blankets and comforts, 
pulpit clothes, good plain gowns and stout shoes. 

But did you ever put yourself in the place of the 
•family at the other end — people probably of as much 
refinement and taste and love of beauty as yourself? 
It is not easy for these families to accept gifts from 
strangers, but it all seems to come in as a part of 
the great sacrifice. 

A Sunshine Circle that had helped to pack " mis- 
sionary' ' barrels had acquired a healthful loathing 
for warm, useful, ugly flannels and the kindred nec- 
essary but unbeautiful gifts destined to delight the 
missionary. So they planned for the missionary's 
wife a "Christmas shower" of all the pretty, useful 
things that any nice womanly woman likes to have. 
Their list included dainty handkerchiefs and neck- 
wear, a pretty apron, pieces of hand-made lingerie, 
one or two small but good pictures, two of the latest 
books, and a big box of candy. A workbag was filled 
with thread, needles and embroidery materials, with 
some new patterns, and into a box of letter paper 
was slipped a box of stamps, a pencil and some 



78 CHURCH SOCIALS 

pens. The gifts were daintily wrapped, finished with 
Christmas ribbons, seals and tags, and the "shower" 
started on its way in time to reach the frontier sta- 
tion by December 23. Warm flannels may warm the 
body, but their gift kindled a real Christmas fire in 
the heart, as they knew in due time. 

A Sunday-school class of ten young ladies who 
had watched their mothers pack missionary boxes 
met together and decided that they ; too, would each 
contribute something to the box of that year, which, 
whether useful or not, should be distinctly attractive. 

This is what they did: Girl number one made a 
dainty collar-and-cuff set, putting the same care upon 
it that she bestowed upon her own. I am sure it 
gave the sensible dark gown some one else gave a 
dainty festive air. Another girl embroidered a linen 
blouse. Another subscribed to a magazine and put 
the November number in the box, with a merry little 
note in rime announcing that it would be a monthly 
visitor for a year. Another used her water-colors 
and made a charming paper-doll family for the 
youngest girl. With this was sent a compact parcel 
of paper-doll materials, a small box of water-color 
paints, scissors and a tube of paste well wrapped. 
Another, with more time and money, begged the priv- 
ilege of hemming the new sheets and pillow-cases that 
the Ladies' Society had voted to make and send. She 
hemstitched them and embroidered a single cross- 
stitch initial on each piece. They were so pretty! 
One girl went among her friends and collected a 
large number of new summer books — the kind people 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 79 

all buy and read but do not need to save. Nor did 
she forget juvenile books for the children. 

Another girl sent some stamped linen and em- 
broidery cottons and a little bundle of materials for 
various bits of fancy work. One girl sent two good 
prints in simple frames; she slipped in also some 
carefully labeled packets of flower seeds from the 
home garden. These didn't take much room and 
proved very acceptable. 

The middle-sized daughter of the missionary (the 
three children in this family were all girls) was re- 
membered with a big bunch of colored raffias and 
illustrated directions for making baskets and bags. 

The Sunday-school girl who could afford it, and 
whose dearest delight was to make others happy, 
gave a pretty little frock, all made to her measure, 
for the fifteen-year-old daughter. 

This was all except an * 'extra' ' gift from the 
father of one of these ten — a good fountain pen for 
the faithful missionary himself. 

In one small town there was an unusual number 
of those who especially needed sympathy — two blind, 
two absolutely helpless and several aged and chronic 
invalids. For the church Christmas celebration the 
one in charge prepared a very pretty Christmas ex- 
ercise of singing and recitations for children only, 
then asked about a dozen of them to go to each home 
of the shut-ins the afternoon before Christmas and 
sing and recite a few of the pieces. Although the 
thermometer was below zero all were on time. Two 
of the lads marched ahead carrying scarlet and white 



80 CHURCH SOCIALS 

banners with Christmas greetings; others carried 
evergreen wreaths. All those whom they visited 
seemed pleased with the exercise and touched that 
the children were willing to sacrifice their own con- 
venience for others' pleasure. One lady — who was 
as helpless as an infant — said that as long as she 
lived she would remember the occasion as the most 
Christlike gift she ever received, a gift of living 
thought and service. 

It is possible to do ' a work at Christmastime in a 
small community that will benefit the school through- 
out the year. The plan is to reach every child, rich 
or poor, who does not attend elsewhere, and invite 
him to attend your Sunday-school. The school census 
list may be copied and taken in turn to the secretary 
of each Sunday-school in town, and all the names 
marked off that appear on his book, thus leaving the 
names of those who go nowhere. To these may be 
sent a remembrance from the school. On the front 
of the attached card write the name of the child and 
the name of the school with a Christmas greeting, 
and on the back: "Dear Friend: If you belong to 
no other Sunday-school, won't you come and join 
us? We need you." 

The Minister's Social Helper. 



CHEISTMAS-TIME IN CHUECH 
AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL 

Can you imagine anything more truly Christmas 
in spirit than for a pastor and his wife to act as 
host and hostess to all the ' * away-f rom-homers " in 
their congregation who otherwise would eat their 
Christmas dinners in a boarding-house or alone in 
a restaurant? One church solved the problem of the 
stranger and the lonely one in its congregation by 
arranging for a dinner at a moderate price for all 
people away from home. Such a dinner can be ar- 
ranged at a hotel or cafe or, if the church facilities 
permit, may be held in the church rooms; and many 
of the lonely ones would ask no greater pleasure 
than to be permitted to help to get the dinner ready, 
set the tables and "dish up." The young folks will 
be in good company, and bright speeches and music 
and games will help to make hearts happy that other- 
wise would have been sad. 

They Keep the Church Rooms Open During the 
Holidays 

"During the week of Christmas, when our young 
people were so apt to find the wrong kind of amuse- 
ment, and when strangers, unable to get home for 
the holidays, were so lonely in a strange community 

81 



82 CHURCH SOCIALS 

and were more than likely to seek companionship in 
surroundings that were not of the best, we decided 
to open our church parlors and have a week's recep- 
tion for all the church members, their friends, all 
the young people and any stranger who cared to 
come; and there were many, many such. The min- 
ister and the Hjome Mission Society took charge. 
Committees were appointed — different ones for each 
evening. A little classroom was decorated prettily 
and arranged for the ' ref reshment-room. ' These re- 
freshments varied. One evening they consisted of 
salad and wafers, served with hot coffee or choco- 
late; another, frozen custard served with delicious 
cake. We hung portieres between this room and 
the main reception-room, then draped them back. 
Into this main room, which was large, we brought 
rugs, cushions, couches, a piano — in short, anything 
decorative — from many homes, and made it into an 
attractively-furnished reception-room. Some were in 
the ' receiving line,' and others introduced the 
strangers and made everybody welcome and at home. 
Each evening we arranged music and readings from 
friends and members gifted in those lines. In the 
next room we had a 'cozy corner' decorated with a 
background of green leaves and vines. A young girl 
in white stood here and served fruit punch. It was 
a success in every way. Young people who thought 
the church would not or could not do anything in 
a social way were very much pleased and charmed 
and we gained new members. We charged no ad- 
mission fee." 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 83 

They Plan for the Happiness of Others 

The Christmas season affords an ideal time for the 
wise superintendent and teacher to cultivate the spirit 
of giving in the hearts of the scholars. 

For more than twenty-five years a prominent Sun- 
day-school in Philadelphia has made the day one of 
substantial helpfulness to the needy of its neighbor- 
hood, and it would not willingly discontinue this 
blessed service. Classes select the special objects of 
their benefactions, and for weeks preparations are 
made for appropriate gifts. 

The donations of one year are representative of 
what this school does. One class sent out not less 
than thirty baskets of provisions to as many fami- 
lies, and almost every other class sent out at least 
one basket. A list of the contents of one of these 
baskets may prove suggestive and will show the sub- 
stantial character of the gift:' chicken, picnic ham, 
potatoes, cereal, several pounds of sugar, one pound 
of coffee, half a pound of tea, two pounds of butter, 
three cans of tomatoes, three cans of corn, one dozen 
eggs, one large cake, turnips, peas, beans, salt and 
a bag of flour. Other gifts consisted of a scholar- 
ship for a poor girl, and subscriptions to several 
magazines to be sent to charitable institutions. The 
classes are urged to deliver their gifts through repre- 
sentatives of the class when it is possible ,to do so, 
and this is always the best way as it brings those 
who give and those who receive into direct personal 
contact. Not less than two hundred families were 
helped by this school. 



84 church; socials 

When a school finds no destitution in its immedi- 
ate community, as may be the case in well-to-do 
suburban towns, it is a good plan to collect clothing, 
provisions, etc., through the scholars and send them 
to some energetic city school, asking that the gifts 
be distributed. 

Included in the Christmas work of a live Kentucky 
school was the writing of over two hundred letters 
and the sending of copies of the New Testament to 
the inmates of the penitentiaries. These were sent 
through the prison committee of the State Christian 
Endeavor Society. This committee provides a Christ- 
mas entertainment at each of the penitentiaries. 

A Sunday-school teacher held a large class of girls 
together for the fall months as a "Pillow Club." 
When Christmas came an Old Ladies' Home was 
supplied with square foot-pillows made of cretonne 
and filled with bits of cork in which California 
grapes are packed, and a hospital was equipped with 
tiny pillows of odd shapes and sizes for the comfort 
of surgical cases and for the use of sick babies and 
children for whom ordinary pillows are unsuitable. 

A class of boys in Indiana gathered small ever- 
green trees and shipped them to the Associated Char- 
ities of their nearest city! The poor homes to which 
they were sent welcomed the trees so joyfully that 
this may become an annual Christmas occupation in 
the school. 

Another group of Christmas cheergivers, having 
previously arranged it with the matron of the hos- 
pital who agreed to keep the secret, were admitted 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 85 

to the reception-room of the hospital about nine 
o'clock Christmas Eve, carrying a dainty tree and 
numerous packages. The tree was securely fastened 
on the table and prettily although hurriedly trimmed. 
At the base was a pound box of home-made candies 
and a small gift for each of the nurses. The matrons 
said: "It drove away a blue Christmas, for many 
people remember the sick in the hospital, but few 
think of the nurses.' ' 

They provided, also, a tray bouquet to lie flat, for 
each patient's Christmas dinner. They followed up 
their early-morning cheer by singing Christmas carols 
on the stairs in the afternoon as there were no very 
serious eases in the hospital at the time. 

A Sunday-school in California held its Christmas 
entertainment the night before Christmas Eve. Then 
on Christmas Eve a class of girls started out on a 
hay-ride — we can't all have snowy Christmases — 
about 6:30 and sang the Christmas carols before 
the homes of about twenty sick and {l shut-ins.'' 
The girls had learned the carols for the entertain- 
ment, so it was no extra work. The list of places 
was provided by the pastor. 

They Put the Christmas Touch Wherever It Will Go 

On the bouquets that go out to the sick from the 
Young People's Societies the Sunday before Christ- 
mas do not forget to put a Christmas card, or the 
cards ordinarily used may be given a Christmas touch 
by sticking on one of the little decorative Christmas 
seals and writing a Christmas message. 



86 CHURCH SOCIALS 

Most Sunday-schools ask that an offering be made 
at their Christmas entertainment, and a novel way 
of collecting it is to give tiny socks to the children 
beforehand in which they may bring their pennies; 
the little socks are then dropped into a huge one sus- 
pended from an embroidery hoop to which has been 
attached a long handle for convenience in collecting. 

Some one told me of a novel way in which a con- 
gregation presented its pastor with a sum of money 
last Christmas. It purchased a postcard album, but 
instead of postcards crisp one-dollar notes were in- 
serted throughout its pages. 

New Ideas for the Christmas Entertainment 

A superintendent asked the young ladies of one 
of his Bible-classes to take charge of the Christmas 
entertainment, offering to pay them ten dollars for 
their services. A large chorus choir formed from 
the church choir and the members of the class fur- 
nished the music, consisting of two Christmas an- 
thems. The rest of the program was given by chil- 
dren who had been drilled by the members of the 
class. The work, shared by all, was a pleasure, and 
the ten dollars helped the finances of the class. 

An Ohio Sunday-school carried out an original 
idea. They held a Christmas social in the Sunday- 
school rooms. Each class was a committee and was 
responsible for a part of the entertainment, but what 
that part was no one knew but themselves and the 
general committee. The air was full of mystery and 
all the scholars were happy over their secrets. One 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 87 

class was the reception committee in gay costume and 
greeted everybody. Another class had decorated the 
rooms in festive manner. Another class presided 
over a postoffice where all the others called for their 
mail and found boxes of candy addressed to them. 
Another class furnished refreshments with the aid of 
the ladies of the church. Then there was the pro- 
gram committee with some novel features, and so on ; 
all through the evening surprises were sprung upon 
every one. Each class had something to do, and did 
it well. All were happy because they were a part 
of the celebration and declared it the best they ever 
had enjoyed. 

Hints for the Decorating Committee 

A Sunday-school in Maine wanted to get the win- 
try-woods effect in their decorations, and in addition 
to using tufts and balls and moss-like fragments of 
cotton batting on the twigs and branches, with here 
and there a gay poinsettia bloom to warm the scene, 
they dipped branches of beech and oak, to which the 
leaves had tenaciously clung, into whitewash. These 
pure white branches were very striking in appear- 
ance. The whitewash might also be used on the ever- 
green branches. 

Garlands of evergreens always make pretty dec- 
orations, but a novel effect may be added by sus- 
pending from the festoons, at distances of say three 
feet, stars cut from cardboard and covered with sil- 
ver and gold paper. For a large church the stars 
should measure about five or six inches across. Hang 



88 CHURCH SOCIALS 

them by invisible wires to the garlands, allowing 
them to hang at different lengths — from six to eight- 
een inches. They will then hang free of the green 
and turn as the air currents strike them. If more 
stars are desired they may be hung on light cord of 
the same color as the walls. The stars should have 
the appearance of hanging in space. 

A reader in Nebraska tells me that the problem of 
Christmas decoration is a serious one with them be- 
cause of the scarcity of greenery and red berries. 
Last year they made scarlet poppies to decorate the 
tree. These were easily fashioned and the result was 
charming. The tree was decorated with these pop- 
pies, and the church was festooned with ropes of 
cedar interspersed with bunches of the red flowers. 

Ladies' Home Journal. 



HOW TO ENTERTAIN A SUNDAY- 
SCHOOL CLASS 

ALMOST all of you who are teachers in a Sun- 
day-school want to entertain your classes dur- 
ing the year, and I know it bothers you some- 
times to know just how to do it. Then, too, the 
organized young women's classes like to entertain 
their frieuds so that they may become interested in 
the work of the class — some of you do it every month, 
and I know you want suggestions. Suppose we begin 
at the very beginning — the A, B, C of it, so to speak. 
Did you ever try entertaining the class with that kind 
of an evening? 

Have the alphabet printed times galore on card- 
board. Then cut between the letters. When cut the 
cards should be three-fourths of an inch square, and 
the letters almost large enough to cover the pieces- 
Mix the letters all up before the guests arrive; 
have a number of small tables ready and seat four at 
a table. Put a stack of the letters in the center. 
Tell your guests what they are to spell with the let- 
ters. We will say name il authors " first. At the tap 
of the bell all begin to work silently and quickly to 
select letters from the pile to spell the name of the 
first author which comes to their minds, while you 



90 CHURCH SOCIALS 

quietly pass around to see that the names are being 
spelled correctly. At the end of five minutes the bell 
taps and all work ceases ; the two who have the great- 
est number of authors' names on the table progress, 
and all get ready for the next } which may be the 
names of birds, flowers, cities, rivers, or anything 
you may see fit to give the company. The couples 
should change partners each time they progress. A 
tiny bottle of tomato sauce with a ribbon around the 
neck and " Catch up" for the label makes a good 
favor for the two who receive the fewest punches 
on their cards. 

Some advantages of this game are: it requires lit- 
tle preparation after the letters are made; any num- 
ber of people may play; it can last a long or short 
time according to the enjoyment of the guests; it can 
be played over and over again, for the more one 
plays it the more skillful one becomes, and hence the 
more one enjoys it; and the subjects that may be 
chosen are endless. It also teaches one to think 
quickly and work with nimble fingers. 

Paper alphabets from four to ten inches in length 
may be bought very inexpensively and may be used 
to . decorate your room. Put A, B, C on one wall, 
X, Y, Z on another, and a greeting, "How do you 
doT' "Glad to see you," etc., or if your class has 
a motto you can display it in this way. 

As the guests arrive hang around each one's neck 
a larger-sized card bearing the initial of his or her 
last name. As a starter to break formality tell them 
that the letters are to spell themselves into words. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 91 

This way: If Mr. N and Miss are standing to- 
gether each one is privileged to write the word i ' No ' ' 
on the card ; then, if Mr. T conies along, all three may 
write "Not" on the cards. Then the three of them 
may tour the room in search of other letters to build 
up their lists. It is a good plan to write the full 
name on the top of the cards when they are given 
out, so that if any of the company are unknown to 
the others when they meet in spelling the words the 
written names may serve as introductions. The one 
who has the least words may be given an A, B, C 
book. 

Another way to do this is to give out cards marked, 
say, "S — Society 3 — 12 members." In explaining 
the idea to your guests you say facetiously that per- 
haps each one belongs to a certain class of people 
or social organization or new movement, and it will 
be well for all interested in that one thing to stand 
together. All having Number Three cards find each 
other and discover they are all "Suffragettes" or 
"Aeronauts," or that they belong to the "Four Hun- 
dred" or the "Submerged Tenth." This will give 
occasion for quite a little fun from those who find 
themselves classified not according to their sentiments. 

If you play this game just before you have refresh- 
ments, as it is November, you might decorate your 
table with harvest products and give out the names of 
vegetables for the different groups. Some will ex- 
claim, "Oh, we're some pumpkins"; others will be 
"onion tops"; others, "We are cabbage-heads"; to 
which some will doubtless reply that they could have 



92 CHURCH SOCIALS 

told them that before. Then, when you go out to 
supper serve, among other things, a combination 
vegetable salad. 

If you don't want to try the alphabetical evening 
here is a good way to get people acquainted. Give to 
the young women rebuses of the young men's names 
— pictures representing them — and the young 
women's names to the young men. They hunt their 
partners according to the pictures they hold. 

Here is a form of entertainment which is educa- 
tional as well. The invitation, with apologies to the 
composer, might read: 

"Dame Nature gave a party, 
The leaves by hundreds came; 
And on our invitation 

You're invited to the same." 

Every one is given the facsimile of a leaf cut from 
white paper veined in ink. They try, of course, to 
decide what leaf it is and consult the wisdom of their 
companions, who are equally ignorant. Finally, when 
all have enjoyed seeing how much they don't know, 
colored pictures of trees, which may be obtained in 
sets with a single leaf illustrated in detail, are pinned 
about the walls. Appropriate program numbers 
along this line are advisable. Suitable recitations and 
musical numbers are not hard to find for such an 
evening. One company of young people who tried 
this plan was a Canadian one, and it closed with 
"The Maple Leaf Forever." Other forms of amuse- 
ment may be the bird and flower guessing games, 
"hidden tree" stories, and the game of "What shall 
the harvest be?" 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 



93 



November is a good month in which to invite your 
class to "A Farmers' Festival in Cornstalk Lane," 
and for decoration use cornstalks and harvest prod- 
ucts. Boards stretched across boxes will serve for 
the extra seats you will need for your guests. As 
each guest arrives he is given a potato or carrot, 
which he keeps until later in the evening, when the 
young people are asked to form into two lines, the 
potatoes in one line, the carrots in the other. Then 
will come the fun of an old-fashioned country spell- 
ing bee, but the words are short and have to be spelled 
backward, which isn't so easy. 



Fifty 


Words for 


the "DouM 


e-Back-Action Spelling 






Contest' 


t 




Bad 


Eve 


Moor 


Pat 


Straw 


Ban 


Ewe 


Mar 


Pot 


Snap 


Bard 


Eye 


Mid 


Pup 


Spin 


But 


Eel 


Nib 


Pit 


Sag 


Dad 


Gab 


Now 


Pool 


Ten 


Dam 


Gag 


Nuts 


Rail 


Ton 


Don 


Gin 


Pan 


Raw 


Tun 


Door 


Knab 


Pin 


Star 


Tub 


Dog 


May 


Part 


Saw 


Tar 


Dray 


Mart 


Par 


Stop 


Ward 



The words should be spelled backward promptly 
and pronounced immediately after the last letter is 
uttered. 

A game for the evening is ' ' straw-stacking, ' ' which 
is played like jackstraws, the materials being lemon- 
ade straws cut into two-inch lengths, and a wire hair- 



94 CHURCH SOCIALS 

pin with which to pick them out of the pile in the 
center of the table. 

An apple-bowling contest is very amusing. The 
apples are placed four in a row, from side to side. 

Each of the contestants is given two trials with a 
tennis ball at a distance of about eight feet. If he 
strikes an apple it is his. 

As all this has been rather strenuous we will offer 
the farmers a little light refreshments in the form 
of "nuts to crack. " 

Why is condensed milk like a stout girl who milks 
the cows'? Because it is milk made thick. 

What author tells us what to do. with a hen and 
chickens? Cooper. 

What apple proves it is best in a race to have no 
hair on one's head? The Baldwin. 

Why do we know that bees are very careful of 
their personal appearance? They use the comb so 
much. 

In what plant should poultrymen invest? Egg- 
plant. 

How many peas in a pint? One. 

For this party you could use, if you like, the 
vegetable game described in the A, B, C party. 

A way to serve refreshments suitable for such an 
evening's entertainment is to distribute wooden plates 
numbered in duplicate, so that partners may be ob- 
tained. The guests are then seated on the boards or 
on the floor, and coffee in tin cups and doughnuts 
and taffy apples, like those you used to have when 
you went to the country school, may be served. 



AND ENTERTAINMENTS 95 

On the "Seeing Frolictown" Automobile 

"On a Monday night, the first in November, 
We wish you all to be sure and remember 
That the Philatheas to you will tender 
A trip around the town. 
The excursion is free; 
If you come out that night 
We are sure you'll agree 
You've been treated all right. 
So pack up your grip 
And with us take the trip! 
By the Funville and Featherbrain Boute." 

This entertainment is a good way to combine many 
of the favorite games well known but always amus- 
ing. It is well to use a different room for each 
' ' building. ' ' 

The first visit is to the Hall of Fame. In this are 
to be shown photographs of the men and women of 
the church and of the young people's society, with 
noted names under each that are appropriate — in a 
way. For instance, the soprano of the choir may be 
designated as Jenny Lind. One especially noted for 
exactness may be styled George Washington. 

In the Masonic Temple some rites of initiation will 
be performed. This is the old game of passing things 
from hand to hand under a sheet. The room is dark 
in this case, and a piece of ice dropped into the hand 
under the name of a "hot coal" has an amusing 
effect on one's mind. 

From this room one goes to the Museum where old 
relics may be shown, and from this to the Art Gal- 
lery where the "titles" read like the catalogue of an 
Art Gallery, but are a stretch of the imagination 



96 CHURCH SOCIALS 

when it comes to looking at the "pictures," as "Out 
for the night' ' — a blown-out candle. 

When you reach the Conservatory of Music one of 
the musical love stories is given, or the first few bars 
of a familiar song for the visitors to recall what it is. 

We must not leave the town without seeing the 
Stock Exchange, and as we all like to buy at par 
here is a little practice: 

"Oh, come and buy stock that is selling at par, 

In sunshades (Parasol) ; in bundles (Parcels) ; in 
greed (Parsimony) : 
We deal in a perfect one (Paragon) ; bird of the 
wood (Partridge) ; 
In nice moral stories to read (Parables). 

"In strange contradictions (Paradox); in tropical 
birds (Parrots) ; 
In those who are with you in trade (Partners) ; 
In walls for dividing (Partitions) ; in things very 
small (Particles) ; 
In that of which candles are made (Paraffin). 

"In medicine soothing (Paregoric); in something that 

sticks (Parasite) ; 

In the place where you sit at the play (Parquet) ; 

In a clerical man (Parson) ; in the place of his 

work (Parish) ; 

In a word which you may use for 'say* (Parley). 

"In two garden products (Parsley and Parsnips); in 
part of a house (Parlor) ; 
In a gathering of folk, large or small (Party) ; 
In what convicts want (Pardon) ; in processions for 
show (Parades) ; 
In a home which would satisfy all (Paradise)." 

The sightseeing tour comes to an end in the palm 
garden, where refreshments are served. 

The Minister's Social Helper. 



